Chapter 14 - The Turn of the Tide
Before the contractor could pull the trigger, the sharp crack of a high-caliber sniper rifle echoed from the far ridge across the valley. The mercenary's head snapped back, his body collapsing heavily into the brush beside Thomas.
A second shot disabled the hovering surveillance drone, sending it spinning in a ball of flame into the pine tops. From the tree line emerged four men in full night-vision gear, moving with rapid, flawless military discipline. They swept the perimeter, eliminating the remaining threat within seconds.
A tall figure stepped forward, lowering his rifle. Under the moonlight, the scarred, weathered face of Sergeant Marcus Diaz came into focus.
""Captain,"" Marcus said, his voice choking with emotion as he dropped to one knee beside his former commander. ""Took us long enough to track Sterling's clean-up crew to you.""
""Marcus..."" Thomas breathed, clutching his friend’s tactical vest. ""You survived.""
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""Thanks to you buying us time three years ago, sir,"" Marcus replied, quickly securing a medical splint around Thomas's bruised shoulder. ""We’ve got the full evidence chain against Sterling. Federal marshals are raiding his estate right now. But we heard gunshots, and we knew you were still fighting.""
""My son..."" Thomas gasped, pointing toward the winding mountain highway below. ""Elena has my son.""
