Chapter 10 - The Cavalry Arrives
From outside the front door came the sound of frantic shouting as the men pounding on our entryway suddenly realized they weren't dealing with an isolated target.
“Retreat! Fall back to the vehicles! It’s a trap!” one of them screamed over the comms.
A split second later, the sharp, thunderous roar of rotor blades tore through the sky above the tree line.
A heavy military-grade transport helicopter dropped out of the overcast afternoon clouds, hovering directly over our front lawn, kicking up a hurricane of dust, leaves, and loose gravel. Floodlights snapped on from the aircraft, blinding anyone standing in the driveway with a wall of searing white light.
Through the splintered crack in our front door, I watched the four tactical operatives freeze, dropping their weapons as a squad of armed naval security forces fast-roped from the hovering helicopter onto our front lawn, securing the perimeter in less than ten seconds.
Mom walked slowly up to the front door, unlatched the steel security bar, and pulled it open.
The cool evening air rushed into the foyer, carrying the smell of jet fuel and ozone.
Chief Ramirez was standing at the bottom of our porch steps, flanked by two armed guards who were currently shoving the captured mercenaries face-first against the hood of their wrecked SUV. Nodding respectfully to my mother, Ramirez looked up past her and caught my eye.
“You okay in there, Mason?” Ramirez called out.
“We’re fine, Chief,” I answered, stepping out beside my mother, adjusting the Kevlar vest over my shoulders.
May you like
Mom stepped out onto the porch, looking down at the detained operatives with the cold, impassioned detachment of an apex predator inspecting trapped pests.
“Tell the district attorney,” Mom said, her voice carrying clearly across the lawn, “that my son and I are ready to answer any further questions—right after we finish our dinner.”
