Chapter 2 - Blood on the Ivory Coat
The applause swelled as Viktor Sterling smiled broadly, teeth flashing white beneath groomed gray stubble. Beside him, Rear Admiral Hayes leaned toward the microphone, clearing his throat to welcome the banquet's guest of honor. Neither noticed the rapid parting of the crowd at the back of the ballroom.
Marcus moved with relentless, measured velocity. Guests gasped as he brushed past white-tableclothed settings, sending wine glasses wobbling on silver trays. Admiral Hayes looked up, a scowl forming on his weathered brow. ""Commander Vance, take your seat. We are about to begin your commendation.""
Marcus didn't blink. He walked up the mahogany steps of the stage, eyes locked solely on Viktor Sterling. Sterling’s easy arrogance twitched into unease as Marcus closed the distance. The oil baron raised a hand, chuckling nervously. ""Marcus, my boy, a great night for—""
The blow landed before Sterling could finish the word. Marcus’s right fist struck the billionaire's jaw with the force of an uncoiled steel cable. The crack of bone echoed through the ballroom speakers, instantly cutting the chamber into dead silence. Sterling crashed into the champagne tower, shattering hundreds of crystal flutes and collapsing into a heap of sparkling wine, glass shards, and crimson blood.
Screams erupted from the front tables. Security guards in dark suits immediately unholstered sidearms, but froze when Marcus turned toward them, his eyes wild and unyielding. Admiral Hayes grabbed Marcus’s dress tunic, his knuckles white.
""Have you lost your goddamn mind, Vance?"" Hayes roared, spit flying into the air. ""Stand down! Stand down right now!""
Marcus stared down at Sterling, who was groaning on the floor, clutching his broken jaw. ""Call the civil police. Have the forensics team seal Suite 402."" Marcus's voice echoed through the podium microphone. ""Viktor Sterling is under citizen's arrest for aggravated assault and attempted murder.""
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Hayes’s face drained of color, glancing between the ruined billionaire and the crowd of foreign delegates raising their phones. Instead of calling the police, Hayes keyed his radio. ""Naval Police, secure the Commander. Disarm him and take him into black-level custody. Now.""
Before Marcus could pull away, heavy tasers struck his chest, sending tens of thousands of volts directly into his heart.
