Chapter 35 - The First Breach
Through the thermal feed on the tablet, I watched three heat signatures moving silently across the lawn toward the back porch. Silas had sent his remaining loyal men to do the dirty work.
I moved swiftly to the backdoor. The men were stacking up against the wooden frame, preparing to breach the lock. I didn't wait for them to kick it down. I used the element of surprise.
I flipped the switch for the high-intensity floodlights I had installed over the patio.
The backyard instantly erupted in blinding, brilliant white light. The three men cursed, throwing their hands up to shield their eyes, completely disoriented by the sudden glare.
I kicked the backdoor open and fired two warning shots into the wooden deck right at their feet. The sound was deafening, shattering the quiet night.
"The next one goes into your chest!" I yelled from the doorway, keeping myself concealed in the shadows of the kitchen. "Your boss is bankrupt! He has no money to pay you! Walk away now, and you live!"
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The mercenaries hesitated, lowering their weapons. They were hired guns, not zealots. Realizing they were blinded, outmaneuvered, and unpaid, they made the smartest choice of their lives.
They turned and sprinted back toward the tree line, abandoning the mission.
