Chapter 17: The Hamilton Steel Foundry

The encrypted message remained on Marco's phone screen for several long seconds.

"Hamilton Steel Foundry," Devon read quietly.

"Victor wants us there tonight."

"He's expecting us," Luca said.

"Which means every entrance will be covered."

Marco slipped the phone into his pocket.

"Then we'll make sure he watches the wrong entrance."

"Boss, you're still recovering," the doctor protested.

"You lost nearly two liters of blood."

"If you reopen those stitches—"

"I'll survive," Marco interrupted calmly.

"Victor won't give Richard another chance."

Benjamin stepped forward.

"This is my family's responsibility."

"I'll go with Devon."

"No," Marco answered immediately.

"Victor wants emotional decisions."

"We're giving him strategy instead."

An hour later, Marco gathered his closest men inside the hospital's private conference room.

Satellite images of the abandoned Hamilton Steel Foundry covered the large screen.

"The factory closed twenty-seven years ago," Luca explained.

"Five production buildings."

"Three underground tunnels."

"One abandoned railway."

"And over two hundred surveillance blind spots."

"Perfect place for an ambush," Devon muttered.

"Exactly why Victor chose it," Marco replied.

Marco pointed toward the eastern side of the map.

"Victor expects us to enter through the main gate."

"Instead, Alpha Team will create a distraction there."

"Bravo enters through the railway tunnel."

"Charlie secures the river exit."

"Luca comes with me."

"And me?" Devon asked.

Marco looked directly at him.

"You stay beside me."

"No heroics."

"I mean it."

Devon smiled faintly.

"I've heard that speech before."

"And ignored it every time," Luca added with a grin.

Even Marco couldn't hide a small smile.

"Let's hope tonight is different."

As darkness covered New York, four black SUVs silently approached the abandoned factory from different directions.

The massive steel complex looked like a ghost town.

Broken windows reflected the moonlight.

Rust covered the enormous smokestacks.

Old conveyor belts creaked softly in the wind.

"Thermal scan?" Marco asked.

"At least thirty armed men inside," Luca answered.

"More arriving every few minutes."

"Victor came prepared."

"So did we."

Marco checked his pistol before looking toward Devon.

"Stay close."

"Always," Devon replied.

The team slipped through an old maintenance tunnel beneath the foundry.

Everything remained silent.

Too silent.

"Something feels wrong," Devon whispered.

"Because it is," Marco answered.

"Victor isn't just waiting."

"He's watching."

Suddenly...

A spotlight illuminated the entire tunnel.

"Good evening, Marco," Victor's voice echoed through hidden speakers.

"Right on schedule."

"I told you to come alone."

"You never were very good at following instructions."

Marco remained calm.

"Show me Richard."

"Patience."

"First... I'd like to introduce someone."

Large steel doors slowly opened ahead of them.

Inside stood Richard Hamilton.

Still chained.

Still weak.

But alive.

"Uncle Richard!" Devon shouted.

Richard slowly lifted his head.

His tired eyes widened the moment he saw Devon.

"You..." he whispered.

"You look exactly like your mother."

Before Devon could respond, another figure stepped out of the shadows.

Everyone froze.

"Impossible..." Benjamin whispered.

"It can't be..."

The man smiled coldly.

"Hello, Benjamin."

"Miss me?"

Marco immediately recognized him.

"Alexander Graves," he said quietly.

"Former director of Hamilton Group."

"Declared dead twenty years ago."

"Apparently not," Alexander replied.

"Victor saved my life."

"And I've spent two decades helping him build this empire."

Devon's confusion deepened.

"Who is he?"

Benjamin's face turned pale.

"He was Richard's closest friend."

"And the man who betrayed our entire family."

Alexander applauded slowly.

"Finally."

"Someone remembers."

"Richard trusted me with everything."

"The company."

"The trust."

"His family."

"Which made betraying him incredibly easy."

Richard struggled against his chains.

"You sold us all for money!"

"No," Alexander corrected.

"For power."

"Money disappears."

"Power lasts forever."

Victor laughed loudly.

"Now everyone knows the truth."

"And since family reunions are so emotional..."

"Let's finish this."

He snapped his fingers.

Dozens of mercenaries emerged from every direction.

Laser sights covered Marco's team.

"Drop your weapons," Victor ordered.

"Or Richard dies first."

Marco slowly lowered his pistol.

"Boss!" Luca protested.

"Do it."

One by one, De Luca's men disarmed themselves.

Victor smiled with satisfaction.

"Much better."

"Now, Devon."

"Walk toward your uncle."

"Alone."

"Don't," Marco warned quietly.

"It's another trap."

"I know," Devon answered.

"But I'm done letting other people suffer because of me."

Before anyone could stop him, Devon stepped forward.

Victor's mercenaries surrounded him immediately.

"Excellent choice," Victor said.

"Now everything is exactly where it belongs."

Victor reached into his coat and removed an old leather envelope.

"Inside this envelope..."

"Are the original Hamilton Trust documents."

"Richard finally told me where to find them."

Benjamin stared in horror.

"No..."

"Richard would never tell you."

Victor grinned.

"You're right."

"He didn't."

"Someone else did."

He slowly looked toward Marco's group.

"The funny thing about loyalty..."

"Is that someone always sells it."

At that exact moment...

One of Marco's own armed men quietly stepped away from the others...

...raised his rifle...

...and pointed it directly at Marco's back.