please. ”
The men looked at one another . It was Mahmoud who spoke, “Certainly.”
T he y departed and Nico smirked. The arrogant pieces of crap it was going to be a pleasure killing them ! He fumbled with the button on his shirt then carefully removed a tiny circular device . He held the volatile object gingerly then slid it in a small crack of the seat . He removed another tiny explosive and placed the second one in the corner near the door then returned to his seat.
Out of curiosity he skimmed through the document, frowning as he read. The language was clear. The purchase agreement stripped him of control along with any company owned patents and licensing. Wow, what a contract!
He heard voices and sat upright. He’d set the activation on the explosives by clicking his pen. The automatic timer g ave Nico les s than fifteen minutes to get off the boat or else he’d fin d himself swimming in the ocean too .
The door opened and Salid entered on cue, “ H ave you decided?”
He felt like a contestant on a high-stakes game show, “ I ’ll take the money. ”
Mahmoud and Abdul hovered at the door as he signed the document. Salid smiled b roadly and removed a cashiers’ check from his breast pocket. “ You decided wisely . ”
A hand retrieved the signed contract in exchange for the thirty million dollar cashier’s check. “ O ur business is concluded Mr. Grant . You are free to leave with your life . ”
Nico tucked the check away in his pocket and headed for the door . The men watched him closely, their keen eyes observant for any change of heart. Nico halt in the doorway, one last scene before the finale, “Do me a favor.”
S alid replied , “If it can be done, certainly.”
“ T ry to retain my employees until the American economy rebounds . Some of th ose people helped make the company what it is . ”
This request surprised Salid . An altruistic American businessman was a rarity. He smiled, “Charitable deeds are a requirement of Islam. We will do our best .”
“Thank you,” Nico replied . He stepped from the cabin re collected his belongings then departed .
Five minutes.
The sun blinded him causing him to squint as he adjust ed to its intensity . He donned his Ray Ban’s and began his descent from the vessel.
T hree minutes.
He hurried off the boat and reached the boardwalk.
One minute.
“Mr. Grant!”
Nico turned.
What now you arrogant prick?
Salid stood on the deck. The designated c learance for the explosive device specified a minimum of thirty feet and o nly t en feet separated Nico from the doomed craft.
Three seconds.
“ Yes?” Nico asked steeling himself for what was to come. He cursed his cocky add-lib. He should’ve kept it moving but the time for regret had passed. It was time to save his ass.
Salid frowned, “My partners and I…,” the final words were never spoken as a loud explosion ripped t hrough the air sending debris everywhere and a cloud of f lame s spiraling toward the clear sky . Nico was in flight high-tail ing it down the pier but the blast caught him and he experienced a blanket of heat then the white-blue firmament turned black .
----
CHAPTER SEVEN
S elange sat crosslegged on the bed engrossed in a trashy novel as a mellow song played in the background. S h e looked up when her husband entered the bedroom then returned to reading . He knew she was upset and plunked down on the edge of the mattress to remove his shoes .
Alfonzo attempted a neutral dialogue to cool the palpable tension , “ I just checked on Sal , he hinted he wants a motorized sports car for his birthday . We gave him so much stuff for Christmas you’d think he wouldn’t want anything else. ” A smile came easily when he talked about his son , “He certainly has the Diaz affinity to cars. ”
Selange merely muttere d, “ Um-hum.”
He looked at his wife for a long moment .
I’m being blown off.
The question in his mind formed into words, “ Babe are you
The men looked at one another . It was Mahmoud who spoke, “Certainly.”
T he y departed and Nico smirked. The arrogant pieces of crap it was going to be a pleasure killing them ! He fumbled with the button on his shirt then carefully removed a tiny circular device . He held the volatile object gingerly then slid it in a small crack of the seat . He removed another tiny explosive and placed the second one in the corner near the door then returned to his seat.
Out of curiosity he skimmed through the document, frowning as he read. The language was clear. The purchase agreement stripped him of control along with any company owned patents and licensing. Wow, what a contract!
He heard voices and sat upright. He’d set the activation on the explosives by clicking his pen. The automatic timer g ave Nico les s than fifteen minutes to get off the boat or else he’d fin d himself swimming in the ocean too .
The door opened and Salid entered on cue, “ H ave you decided?”
He felt like a contestant on a high-stakes game show, “ I ’ll take the money. ”
Mahmoud and Abdul hovered at the door as he signed the document. Salid smiled b roadly and removed a cashiers’ check from his breast pocket. “ You decided wisely . ”
A hand retrieved the signed contract in exchange for the thirty million dollar cashier’s check. “ O ur business is concluded Mr. Grant . You are free to leave with your life . ”
Nico tucked the check away in his pocket and headed for the door . The men watched him closely, their keen eyes observant for any change of heart. Nico halt in the doorway, one last scene before the finale, “Do me a favor.”
S alid replied , “If it can be done, certainly.”
“ T ry to retain my employees until the American economy rebounds . Some of th ose people helped make the company what it is . ”
This request surprised Salid . An altruistic American businessman was a rarity. He smiled, “Charitable deeds are a requirement of Islam. We will do our best .”
“Thank you,” Nico replied . He stepped from the cabin re collected his belongings then departed .
Five minutes.
The sun blinded him causing him to squint as he adjust ed to its intensity . He donned his Ray Ban’s and began his descent from the vessel.
T hree minutes.
He hurried off the boat and reached the boardwalk.
One minute.
“Mr. Grant!”
Nico turned.
What now you arrogant prick?
Salid stood on the deck. The designated c learance for the explosive device specified a minimum of thirty feet and o nly t en feet separated Nico from the doomed craft.
Three seconds.
“ Yes?” Nico asked steeling himself for what was to come. He cursed his cocky add-lib. He should’ve kept it moving but the time for regret had passed. It was time to save his ass.
Salid frowned, “My partners and I…,” the final words were never spoken as a loud explosion ripped t hrough the air sending debris everywhere and a cloud of f lame s spiraling toward the clear sky . Nico was in flight high-tail ing it down the pier but the blast caught him and he experienced a blanket of heat then the white-blue firmament turned black .
----
CHAPTER SEVEN
S elange sat crosslegged on the bed engrossed in a trashy novel as a mellow song played in the background. S h e looked up when her husband entered the bedroom then returned to reading . He knew she was upset and plunked down on the edge of the mattress to remove his shoes .
Alfonzo attempted a neutral dialogue to cool the palpable tension , “ I just checked on Sal , he hinted he wants a motorized sports car for his birthday . We gave him so much stuff for Christmas you’d think he wouldn’t want anything else. ” A smile came easily when he talked about his son , “He certainly has the Diaz affinity to cars. ”
Selange merely muttere d, “ Um-hum.”
He looked at his wife for a long moment .
I’m being blown off.
The question in his mind formed into words, “ Babe are you
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