Chapter 47: Chapter 47: The New Security Chief
Ethan quickly checked the two knocked-out guards, cuffing them face-down and stripping them of their weapons, ammunition, and tasers. Jason immediately began scanning the perimeter.
"Let’s see if there’s anyone else," Jason murmured.
They checked the area; the construction site appeared empty again. Ethan turned to Jason. "You wouldn’t happen to know how to operate that excavator, would you?"
Jason chuckled, the sound far more genuine than before. "Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll take care of it."
Ethan clearly noted the shift. Despite the subtlety, Jason was treating him with increasing respect, and now, he’d used the title "Boss." Ethan pretended not to notice.
They ran toward the excavator. Jason climbed into the cabin and quickly started the engine. The sound was deafening, amplified by the late-night silence.
Jason expertly maneuvered the heavy machinery, positioning the giant scoop in front of the target area. He worked quickly, tearing through the fresh rubble and digging down. Within minutes, the scoop hit something solid. Jason carefully pulled back the arm, revealing a small, heavily-dusted metal briefcase.
A furious shout ripped through the night air.
"What the hell are you doing here?! This is private property!"
A guard, pistol drawn, flashlight beam cutting through the darkness, ran toward them, shouting threats. He quickly brought his radio to his mouth. "Delta 31, 20, and 21, where the hell are you?! We have thieves inside, damn it!"
Ethan bolted, diving behind a stack of steel beams for cover, but Jason remained calm in the noisy cabin of the excavator.
The enraged guard approached the roaring machine, still screaming. As he reached the front of the excavator, Ethan emerged silently from the side, a shadow in the flashlight’s glare.
"Drop the weapon," Ethan commanded, the 9mm leveled steadily at the guard’s chest. "My partner is inside that cabin. You’ll need more than one shot to take him out, and I have you right in front of me. If you fire once, there won’t be a second shot."
The guard’s shouting stopped instantly. He began to sweat, realizing he was completely screwed. He slowly raised his hands and dropped to his knees. Ethan moved close and hit the man squarely with the butt of the pistol, knocking him out cold. He stripped the guard of his weapon and ran back toward the excavator.
Jason lowered the arm of the machine. "Excellent work, Boss," he said, a genuine grin on his face.
They continued to clear the area quickly. Jason used a key hanging from a dirty chain around his neck to open the metal briefcase, saying he had guarded it carefully not to lose it. Inside were documents sealed in vacuum-packed bags to prevent moisture damage. Alongside the documents, there was a cell phone, a USB stick, and a detailed map.
Jason handed the briefcase contents to Ethan. "We’ll check this far from here. Let’s go before someone else comes."
Jason nodded, and they ran back to the car. They quickly loaded everything into the trunk, including the firearms, which Ethan unloaded and placed beneath the spare tire along with the other gear they’d stolen.
They climbed into the BMW and sped away from the construction zone, leaving the lights and the unconscious guards behind.
A few blocks away, Ethan parked in a secluded side street. He turned to Jason. "What are your plans now? What do we do, or what did you think would happen once we got the papers?"
Jason’s posture sagged slightly. "The truth is, I don’t know, kid. I hoped we could claim what’s ours, but that’s just a dream I’ve weakly clung to. I really just hope you’ll help me figure out how to survive this situation."
Ethan nodded. "I understand. We’ll figure it out. But for now, we should wait before making any rash moves."
"I’ll follow your lead, Boss," Jason agreed readily.
"You were incredible back there, Jason," Ethan said, genuinely impressed. "How did you do all that?"
Jason smiled wryly. "I never told you what my job was at the company, did I? I was the Head of Security. I was in charge of everything initially, but slowly Vincent stripped me of the title and brought in his own people. That’s why they were able to ambush your father and me—he killed several of my men who tried to help me escape."
Ethan was stunned by the new information. While he suspected the man was a good fighter, Jason’s style wasn’t the jiu-jitsu taught in academies; it looked hard and lethal, like something practiced in life-or-death situations.
"Where have you been, or what’s your experience?" Ethan pressed.
"I served in the military in a foreign country—Iraq," Jason revealed. "Expert in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering behind enemy lines. I was also responsible for forming a couple of guerrilla units in Colombia and Venezuela. So, I have experience training people."
Upon hearing this, Ethan’s mind lit up. Jason seemed tailor-made for the job. He was exactly what Ethan needed: a Head of Security who could gather information for him and develop his own private forces.
"That sounds too good," Ethan said. "What do you say about working for me? I need a Chief of Security."
Jason’s eyes widened. "I would be more than happy to, but my head has a price on it. It would put you in danger."
Ethan’s gaze hardened. "That’s the least of my worries. That bastard Halbert has to die. Whether I want to or not, I’m already in conflict with them. Since my father died, this was inevitable."
Jason laughed, a full, genuine laugh this time. "You sound just like your father—brave, confident, determined. Let’s do it, Boss! We’ll take revenge on those bastards and reclaim what belongs to us."
[Holy cow!] The System exclaimed. [Look at this. You’ve got yourself a real-life G.I. Joe! He’s a one-man army!]
[You know what this means, right, Ethan?] The System added, practically jumping with excitement. [Now you can form your own group of Avengers! You can be the Temu 2.0 Tony Stark!]