In a parking lot at their compound, all the guys were there. Musa, Zondo, Lorna and Adrian alm stood quietly as Bruce sat inside his car. "You know, you guys are overprotective. Well for one thing, Adrian you're second, we must never walk together. If something where to happen, there would need someone to sit at the head of the table."
He looked at Zondo and said, " Zondo I need you to keep Adrian safe but you'll be here. Besides I want you and Lorna to find out if anything compromising was found in the warehouse. Thankgoodness we've got Tiger, we would have lost a whole shipment though my sources in Thabo's squad tell me it isn't him and that means we may have a new enemy and this one since he is unknown, is making the taskforce work for him. There are still details we have to try to to allign well to fully understand the whole thing after I get back. Bye you guys and, he looked at Musa and said, "Lets go buddy, I hate being late nomatter the occasion." With that, Musa got behind the steering wheel and the car drove off. The other guys only went inside after the car had completely disappeared into the distance.
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Bruce's car came to a halt outside the recently raided warhouse. He got out of the car and beside him stood only Musa. In front of the car was a table with two chairs. On on one chair sat Thabo with three visible guys behind him yet their faces were masked. Bruce approached the table and he sat without invitation, eyes locked on Thabo, the host.
His tone was calm, but his jaw clenched with pressure, " I'm sorry I'm late, its just that being the one who chose the venue, I wanted to give you enoug time to do a thorough sweep.
"One of my shipments didn't land." said Thabo without extending any pleasantries.
Bruce didn't look up. "I know."
"You always know."Thabo leaned forward and then added, "I want it back. Crates full of clean steel, their numbers filed off. Just profitable merchandise."
Bruce rested both his hands on the table and said, "That merchandise is in federal custody. They flagged it offshore, tracked it in. Apparently, you didn't cover it well enough."
Thabo's nostrils flared and said with a raised voice, "It was clean. Someone was clearly targeting me."
"Or someone got sloppy."Bruce's voice was razor-flat. "Either way, they're watching. Me, mostly. They must have thought it was mine but I told my guys to hold on as long as they're guns."
"Bruce, still think you're the untouchable giant. I've seen the reports. Taskforce tags. Your name has been circled in red ink. And they have hired an naughty operative to take care of you. Weren't your guys questioned just two days ago? The end is near." laughed Thabo.
Bruce finally met his eyes. Cold, unblinking.
"You want to open gun lanes and underground fights while the FBI's already circling? That's not risk, Thabo. That's suicide."
Thabo sat back, jaw grinding."You're not in the gun business. You don't tell me how to do my business, I've never told you how to win cases in court. Let me do my thing."
Bruce rose, slow and deliberate. "Do what you want but don't say I didn't warn you. Just don't run your dirty deals under my shadow and as long as you're still in Zimbabwe, you're still a threat to me for Zim lies in my shadow. Guns bring the IRS and with the recent situation, I can't afford that…." He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Thabo stood too, unshaken. "I'm not asking for shelter. Just space and maybe after Micah is done with you, I can give you an Advisor position"
Bruce gave the faintest nod.
"Stay in South Africa my boy. That's the much I can do for you. Go back home, your boss isn't worth all this risk."
He turned and walked off towards his car with Musa tailing behind him his hand on his gun guarding against any sudden moves. But nothing happened, they got into the car and drove off.
Thabo stayed behind, silent. The war was heating and Bruce didn't seem fazed at all. To him, with Micah here, Bruce's fall was only a matter of time."
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