21 Three faint knocks from inside a coffin revealed a secret that nearly went six feet underground.

Rain poured in heavy sheets as Adrian pushed the sports car to its absolute limits, weaving through the slick streets toward Pier 42. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. Payson was all he had left to protect while Preston lay unconscious in an undisclosed medical facility guarded by Marcus's remaining men.

At Pier 42, abandoned shipping containers loomed like metal giants in the mist. The smell of rust and salt water hung thick in the air. Adrian parked the car three blocks away, approaching the perimeter on foot under the cover of darkness.

Inside a vast, dimly lit warehouse at the end of the pier, three vehicles were parked with their headlights shining toward the center of the room. Tied to a wooden chair beneath the harsh glare of the lights was twelve-year-old Payson. His hands were bound behind his back, but his chin was held high, despite the tears drying on his cheeks.

Standing beside him was Captain Richard Vance, smoking a cigarette, flanked by four heavily armed syndicate mercenaries.

"He's not coming, kid," Vance said coldly, blowing a cloud of smoke into the chilly air. "Your dad is smart enough to know when he's outmatched."

Payson glared at his father's former boss. "My dad is a real cop! He's going to find you, and you're going to jail!"

Vance chuckled grimly. "Real cops end up six feet under, kid. Just ask your mother."

"My mom is alive!" Payson shouted bravely. "I heard her! She tapped three times!"

"A mistake that will be rectified soon enough," Vance growled, tossing his cigarette onto the wet concrete and crushing it under his boot. He turned to one of his men. "If Salim doesn't show up in five minutes, throw the boy into the bay. We're cutting our losses and leaving the country tonight."

Hidden high above in the steel rafters of the warehouse, Adrian heard every word. Anger flared like wildfire in his veins, but he forced himself to stay disciplined. He had five men to take down, one of them a trained police captain, and a boy to protect. A direct assault meant suicide for both him and Payson.

He needed a distraction.

Quietly moving along the catwalk, Adrian spotted a electrical junction box mounted on the wall near the ceiling. Aiming Julian’s silenced pistol carefully, he fired two shots directly into the high-voltage transformers.

A deafening explosion of sparks showered down like fireworks. The main power grid blew out instantly, plunging the entire warehouse into pitch-black darkness.

Screams of confusion erupted below.

"What the hell was that?!"

"Find the breaker! Flashlights on!"

"Secure the kid!"

Before the mercenaries could react, Adrian dropped from the rafters onto the roof of a parked SUV, landing with a heavy thud. He fired twice into the darkness, taking down the nearest guard before the man could draw his weapon.