Chapter 77: Delivery (Part 2)
[A Month Later]
The car rumbled along the cracked streets of New York, its engine purring low like a predator stalking prey.
Simon sat behind the wheel, his hands relaxed but firm, guiding the vehicle through the dimly lit urban sprawl.
The city was alive in a way that always felt wrong — movement in the dark, the sound of distant voices, and the occasional flicker of headlights from other vehicles cutting through the gloom.
In the passenger seat, Bethany leaned back, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the streets. Rita and Leo sat in the back, a tense silence hanging between them.
It wasn’t fear — not exactly. It was the kind of quiet anticipation that came before a storm.
Simon’s voice broke the silence, steady and low. "I’ve tracked the supplier. He operates out of a fortified compound on the east side of the city. Name’s Grayson Miller. If the intel’s right, he’s got a stockpile of guns big enough to arm an entire battalion."
Leo let out a low whistle. "A stockpile? That’s not just some dealer running a street corner. This guy’s got serious connections."
"He does," Simon confirmed, his tone sharp. "And he’s been playing both sides. Supplying the other groups like Adrian’s and the top ranker. Keeping himself protected while everyone else fights for scraps. We’re going to take him out — and take his guns while we’re at it."
"Does he know we’re coming?" Bethany asked, her voice calm, but there was an edge of calculation there. She always thought two steps ahead, making her a natural complement to Simon’s plans.
Simon shook his head. "Unlikely. He’s arrogant. Thinks he’s untouchable. But his security is solid — cameras, guards, the whole package. We’ll need to be quick and quiet."
For the big people in the Apocalypse, Electricity powered by a generator was still available.
Rita leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "And what happens when we take him out? Won’t his people come looking for us?"
"They’ll scatter," Simon replied without hesitation. "Without Grayson, they’ll fall apart. He’s the glue holding them together. We hit hard, we get what we need, and we leave before anyone has a chance to retaliate."
Bethany studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "What’s the plan?"
Simon’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel as he took a sharp turn. "We go in through the north entrance — less security there. Bethany, you and I will take out the outer guards. Rita, you’ll disable the cameras and alarms once we’re inside. Leo, you’re on muscle and guns — if anyone gets past us, you handle it."
Leo cracked his knuckles, a faint grin playing on his lips. "I can do that."
Rita nodded, though her lips pressed into a thin line. "Sounds straightforward. What about Grayson? How do we get to him?"
Simon glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "He’s in the central building, likely on the upper floor. Once the perimeter’s clear and the alarms are down, we move in. He won’t have time to run."
There was a beat of silence as the group processed the plan. It was simple, but that was Simon’s strength.
He never overcomplicated things. A straightforward plan, executed with precision — that was how they survived.
The car slowed as Simon pulled into an empty lot a few blocks from their target.
He turned off the engine, and the sudden quiet felt almost oppressive. He turned in his seat, looking at each of them in turn.
"This is just another job," he said, his tone firm. "Stick to the plan, and we’ll come out on top. Don’t hesitate. Don’t second-guess. We don’t have room for mistakes."
Bethany nodded once, her hand already resting on the gun holstered at her side.
Leo smirked, his confidence unshaken as he rolled his shoulders, loosening up for the fight ahead.
Simon’s gaze lingered on each of them a moment longer before he opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air. The others followed, their movements quiet, purposeful.
The walk to the compound was tense but uneventful. The building loomed ahead, a squat, industrial structure surrounded by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire.
Floodlights cast harsh beams across the perimeter, but the north side was darker, just as Simon had predicted.
Simon motioned for them to stop, crouching behind a cluster of crates. He pointed to two guards patrolling near the entrance, their silhouettes sharp against the dim light.
"Bethany," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
She nodded, slipping past him with practiced ease. Within moments, the first guard crumpled to the ground, Bethany’s blade slicing cleanly across his throat.
The second guard barely had time to react before she fired a silenced shot, the body falling with a dull thud.
Simon signaled for the others to move, and they crept toward the entrance. Rita knelt by the control panel beside the door, her fingers flying over the keys as she bypassed the security system.
The faint click of the door unlocking was barely audible over the pounding of their hearts.
They slipped inside, the dim hallway stretching before them. Simon led the way, his movements precise, every step calculated.
Bethany was right behind him, her gun drawn, her eyes scanning every shadow. Rita and Leo brought up the rear, the tension between them palpable.
As they moved deeper into the building, they encountered more guards. Simon and Bethany took them out with brutal efficiency, their teamwork seamless.
Rita kept her focus on the cameras, disabling them one by one from the control room, while Leo stayed alert, ready to jump into action if needed.
Finally, they reached the central building. The stairs leading to the upper floor were unguarded, a sign of Grayson’s arrogance.
Simon motioned for the group to stop, his gaze locking on Bethany.
"Rita, Leo, stay here," he ordered. "Bethany and I will handle Grayson. If anyone comes down those stairs, deal with them."
Rita opened her mouth to protest, but a sharp look from Simon silenced her. She nodded reluctantly, gripping her weapon tighter.
Simon and Bethany ascended the stairs, their steps silent.
They reached the door to Grayson’s office, and Simon paused, listening. Faint voices drifted through the door — Grayson wasn’t alone.
Simon glanced at Bethany, who gave a slight nod. Together, they burst into the room, guns drawn.
Grayson barely had time to react before Simon fired, the bullet striking the man standing beside him. The second shot was for Grayson’s leg, sending him sprawling to the ground with a cry of pain.
Bethany moved quickly, kicking his weapon away and pressing her foot against his chest.
Grayson coughed, blood staining his lips as he glared up at them. "You think killing me will change anything?" he spat.
Simon didn’t flinch. He raised his gun and fired, the sound of the shot echoing in the room.
Bethany crouched, quickly searching Grayson’s body for keys or information. They didn’t have much time before the rest of his men realized what had happened.
"Let’s move," Simon said, his voice steady.
They returned to the others, who had already secured the reserve of guns in the lower level.
The group worked in tense silence, their breaths shallow as they hoisted the heavy crates of guns and ammunition.
Each crate was packed tightly, the weight straining even Leo’s considerable strength. The air inside the compound felt stifling, as though danger lurked in every shadow.
"Watch the spotlight," Bethany hissed, her voice low but urgent. She gestured for Leo and Rita to stick close to the wall as the floodlight swept over the courtyard.
Simon stood by the car they had parked just outside the compound’s north perimeter, the trunk already propped open.
His sharp gaze darted between the compound and the guards in the distance, his posture calm but coiled, ready to act at the first sign of trouble.
Bethany and Leo carried a heavy crate between them, their movements careful and deliberate as they crept toward the exit. Rita followed close behind, her arms wrapped around a smaller box, her face set in grim determination despite the strain.
"Move faster," Simon whispered as they reached the car. His tone was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Bethany glared at him but said nothing as she and Leo slid the crate into the car’s trunk. The metal scraped against the edge, and Simon winced at the sound, casting a quick glance over his shoulder.
"Two more runs," Simon said, keeping his voice low.
Bethany straightened and shot him a look. "We know the plan, Simon. Don’t micromanage."
"Then stick to it," he replied coldly, his gaze locking on hers for a brief moment before shifting back to the compound.
Leo let out a soft grunt as he adjusted the straps of his gloves. "Let’s just get this done," he muttered, heading back toward the building.
Rita followed, her steps a little heavier now as the weight of their task began to wear on her.
Simon didn’t move from his spot by the car, his sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings. The night felt too quiet, the silence pressing against his ears like a warning.
When Bethany and Leo returned with another crate, their steps hurried, Simon stepped forward to help. He grabbed the box from Leo and hefted it into the trunk without ceremony.
"Last one," Bethany muttered, her voice low.
"Make it quick," Simon said.
Bethany and Leo exchanged a glance before disappearing back into the shadows, leaving Simon and Rita by the car. She shifted nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her jacket.
"You think we’ll get out clean?" Rita asked softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the floodlights.
