Sorry for the cliffie in the last chapter - I couldn't resist. Let's dive back in.

The click of an empty weapon, a mocking prelude to death, echoed like a distant thunderclap, but no bullet followed. The cruel twist left Steve momentarily breathless.

"Not today, Commander," Makoni said as he lowered the gun. "Not like this."

Steve's eyes radiated all the hatred and anger he could muster. It must have looked pathetic if Makoni's ugly grin was anything to go by.

"Funny, isn't it?" Makoni said. "Remember the last time we met? I had you back then. Right there on your knees. Much like now."

Steve remembered every single moment of it. He didn't answer.

"I was this close to putting a bullet through your skull." Makoni made a pinching gesture with his fingers. "It would have been quick. You wouldn't even realize it. But you don't deserve a quick death. Not after you and your team did what you did."

"We made a mistake back then," Steve croaked. "By letting you live. Won't happen again."

Steve barely registered Makoni's pistol swinging into his face. It caught him just above his eye and his head snapped sideways. Almost instantly, his vision turned red due to fresh blood trickling down his skin.

He adjusted his position, suppressing a painful groan as he shuffled his knees against the hard metal floor. The muscles in his legs shook with effort. The lack of food and water, the heat, and constant pain had left him on the precipice of exhaustion. Every inch of his body ached, and the oppressive heat inside the container just intensified the torment.

Makoni, unwilling to let Steve's failed escape attempt go unpunished, motioned to his men. The taller one, nursing a broken nose from their earlier clash, stepped forward with vengeance etched in his eyes. The man curled his hands into fists as he strode to Steve, fueled by his wounded pride. The other man followed.

The first blow landed on Steve's ribs. Searing pain radiated through his torso and a stifled grunt escaped his lips. Then a fist collided with his jaw, and sent him reeling to the floor.

He didn't fight back this time. He couldn't.

Each subsequent strike was a symphony of brutality. Fists and boots collided with flesh, and the metallic taste of blood filled Steve's parched mouth. The kicks and punches rained down on him, and darkness threatened to claim him, but a stubborn flame within refused to flicker out.

A punch to the jaw sent a shockwave of pain through his skull, stars dancing at the edges of his vision. Soon, the pain, coupled with dehydration, blurred the lines between consciousness and unconsciousness.

As the beating ceased, Steve hung in the void between pain and surrender. Makoni's men, content with their retribution, retreated, leaving Steve motionless on the floor. Makoni walked past them out into the light, and the door creaked shut, sealing Steve in a dark metal box once again.

Alone with every laboured breath, Steve felt the specter of his own mortality. The stifling heat hinted at another sunny day. Another day of torment awaiting him. His concussed brain formed a silent admission–it would likely be his last day.

13 hours later

"So, let me go through this again," Lou said from the passenger's seat of Danny's Camaro. "We don't know how much resistance we should expect."

"Not really," Danny said.

"Probably a lot, though, considering the seller of those things is an Albanian mob boss."

"Probably."

"And we can't even be sure that agent Brooks–"

"Lou, that's enough," Danny interrupted. "I know, it's risky. The only two things we know for sure is that we can't let this trade go through or it's game over and that Makoni will be there."

Lou shifted in the seat uncomfortably. Didn't say anything. Danny was full aware of many variables that could affect the outcome of this night. But the stakes were too high to sit back and do nothing. The nerves were understandable. They only had one shot.

"We've been through this," Danny said. "We'll take them by surprise."

"Yeah, I sure hope so."

Danny hoped so, too. It was their only tactical advantage.

Lou said, "We're almost there."

He nodded. Zoned in.

They raced through sleepy suburbia, entombed by the night, minutes from the complex. Satellite imagery identified it as some sort of industrial building. There was a main office complex and a loading bay out back. There were acres of land all around it. The neighbouring establishments weren't close. The sound of gunfire would remain discreet.

"I don't need to remind you we need Makoni alive, right?" Lou said.

Gritting his teeth, Danny said, "I know."

It didn't matter how much he wanted Makoni in the ground. The man knew where Steve was and he might be their only way to find him before it was too late. He was also well aware that finding Steve wasn't the team's primary goal right now. Not that he liked it the tiniest bit. But if they failed tonight, the consequences would be much, much worse than losing his best friend's life. Danny took a long time to come to terms with that fact, but eventually, he thought about what Steve would want him to do. He knew all to well that his best friend wouldn't forgive him if he saved him for the price of hundreds or even thousands of innocent lives and the destroyed future of this island. Hell, he wouldn't forgive himself either.

Too many people had already fallen under the reign of the heartless monster that Makoni was. This had to end now. He was ready for war if it was what it took.

One moment they were in a side street and the next the complex was there in front of them. It was a three-story structure, relatively modern, built with cheap materials. Like it had been taken out of a formulaic magazine, blown up to full size, and dropped into a dirt lot. It was completely unimpressive. Nobody would look twice at it–which was the point.

"You sure about this?" Lou asked.

"Very sure," Danny said.

He saw Junior, Chin, and Tani slow down in the car behind him.

"Okay, then."

Danny killed the lights and pulled up across the street. The gate was closed, but no one was in sight.

He waited for the rest of the team to catch up with them, and said, "Showtime."

They climbed over the rusty gate and moved through shadows toward the building looming ahead like a forgotten relic of urban development. Within moments they spotted the activity near the entrance–two cars parked outside the building. Four men clutching carbine rifles scattered around them. Heavy-duty firepower.

Tension mounted.

They split. Tani and Junior crept away in the darkness and headed to the back of the building.

Danny and Lou waited in silence until they had the confirmation.

"In position," Junior's whisper sounded from the earpiece. "Four more sentries out in the back."

"Any sign of Makoni?" Danny asked. "Or the sellers?"

" must be inside already."

"Alright. Ready?"

"On you."

Danny gave a signal to Chin and Lou, and opened fire.

*to be continued*

Thanks for reading and I hope you like this story so far. I'd really appreciate if you shared your thoughts.