C414 Security Footage

Back in the city, Ben finally decided that he had tolerated Antonio and Steve long enough. The two men had treated his club as though it belonged to them. They drank whatever they wanted, behaved as if everyone around them owed them respect. At first, Ben had allowed it because he wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. But patience had its limits. That evening, the club was busy. Music played softly in the background while customers sat around tables, enjoying their drinks. The bartenders moved between orders, and the waitresses carried trays across the floor. Antonio and Steve entered the club with their usual confidence. They walked straight toward the bar and took their seats. "Bring us the usual," Antonio said. Steve laughed. "Make sure it's the good stuff this time."

The bartender hesitated for a moment before reaching for the bottles. He had become accustomed to their demands, even though he knew Ben had never instructed anyone to give them unlimited drinks. Before the bartender could finish pouring, Ben appeared behind them. "That is enough." Antonio turned around with a surprised expression. Steve looked over his shoulder. "What?" Ben stood calmly in front of them, his hands resting at his sides. "It has been a month since the two of you started drinking for free." Antonio frowned. "And?" Ben looked toward the ceiling, where several CCTV cameras were positioned. "And I have been watching everything." The two men followed his gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Ben continued, his voice controlled but firm. "Jack was my friend. I never intended for him to die, and I never wanted him to go after the people he went after. But I think I have had enough of you two."

Antonio slowly placed his glass on the counter. Steve's expression hardened. "What are you talking about?" Ben stepped closer. "So, I am going to give you two options." He pointed toward the CCTV camera again. "You leave my club immediately, or I take all the evidence those cameras have recorded and give it to the police. The victims can testify on their own." Antonio exchanged a glance with Steve. They had believed Ben was weak. They had believed that because he had remained quiet for so long, he would continue allowing them to do whatever they wanted. They had been wrong. Steve leaned back in his chair. "You wouldn't do that." Ben smiled faintly. "Try me." Antonio looked toward the camera again. His face had lost some of its confidence.

Ben continued before either man could respond. "Once the police obtain the footage of all your actions and the witnesses testify, a major case will be opened. And since both of you are falcons..." He paused deliberately. "...former prisoners, you might end up going back to jail." The words settled heavily between them. Antonio's jaw tightened. Steve looked at the bartender, then toward the other customers in the club. Nobody was paying them much attention, but that did not matter. Ben had made it clear that he had enough evidence to destroy them. Steve slowly stood up. "You are ungrateful." Ben raised an eyebrow. "Ungrateful?" "We helped you," Steve said angrily. "We were there when nobody else was." Ben's expression changed slightly. "And so I have given you two enough drinks. Don't you think it is enough now?"

Antonio stood up beside Steve. "You think you can threaten us and get away with it?" "I am not threatening you," Ben replied. "I am giving you a choice." Steve pointed a finger at him. "We will tell the police everything. Wait for them." Ben's smile returned. "Good." Steve paused. Ben leaned forward slightly. "When you are having that conversation with them, make sure you tell them that it was the two of you who beat Mr Weatherby not me." Antonio's face immediately changed. Ben continued. "That will add to the footage I already have. You might as well prepare yourselves to spend ten to fifteen years in prison." For a few seconds, Steve and Antonio stood frozen. They had not expected Ben to be this serious. They had assumed that since the incident involved his club he won't include the police.

But Ben had been collecting information long before he confronted them. The CCTV footage had recorded more than their drinking. It had captured their arguments, their harassment of employees, and the violence they had committed against people who could not defend themselves. Steve and Antonio exchanged another glance. This time, there was no confidence between them. Without another word, they walked toward the exit. As they reached the door, Steve turned around. "You will regret this." Ben simply watched him. Antonio opened the door, and the two men left. The moment they were gone, Ben turned toward the bartender. "Everyone," he called loudly. The employees and several customers looked in his direction. Ben raised his glass. "This round is on me." Cheers immediately rang out across the club. The bartender laughed as the employees celebrated. Music grew louder, glasses were raised, and the atmosphere changed completely. Ben felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had tolerated enough. Now, Steve and Antonio were no longer his problem. At least, that was what he hoped.

Later that evening, Mark knocked off from work and made his way toward the parking area outside the police offices. The city was beginning to settle into the night. Streetlights illuminated the roads, and traffic moved steadily through the main intersections. Mark approached his large Range Rover and unlocked the vehicle. He climbed inside, placed his phone on the dashboard, and started the engine. For a moment, everything appeared normal. He pulled out of the parking area and joined the main road. But after travelling several blocks, Mark noticed something unusual. Dark vehicles had been following him. At first, he thought nothing of it. Cities were busy, and vehicles often travelled in the same direction. Then he noticed another car behind it. And another. Mark glanced at his rear-view mirror. The vehicles were maintaining their distance, but they were clearly following him.

His instincts immediately changed. He reached for his phone and contacted his police team. "Some vehicles are following me," he said. "I need you to come quickly. We have to identify them and take them into custody." One of the officers responded immediately. "Sir, where are you?" "I will share my live location. Follow me as quickly as possible." Mark activated his location and sent it to his team. Within minutes, police vehicles began leaving the station. Officers rushed toward the main road, unaware of how serious the situation had already become. Meanwhile, Mark increased his speed. The vehicles behind him responded immediately. Their engines grew louder as they accelerated. Mark looked into his mirror again. The distance between them was closing. "Who are these people?" he muttered. He considered pulling over and confronting them, but something stopped him. There were too many vehicles. And they were not behaving like ordinary drivers.

Mark pressed harder on the accelerator. The Range Rover moved through traffic, passing several cars and changing lanes whenever necessary. His hands remained steady on the steering wheel, but his mind was working quickly. He knew that if the men following him were connected to Willy, then this was not a random attack. Someone wanted him dead. The main road eventually became less crowded. Buildings grew fewer, streetlights became more distant, and the sound of traffic slowly disappeared behind him. Mark continued driving. The vehicles following him did not slow down. Instead, they remained close behind. He glanced at his phone, checking the location he had shared with his team. The police were still on their way. But they were not close enough.

Mark suddenly turned onto a smaller gravel road. The road stretched ahead between bushes and open land. It was narrow, uneven, and almost empty. There were very few vehicles travelling in that direction. Mark immediately realized his mistake. He had left the busy main road and entered an area where nobody would easily witness what happened next. Behind him, Willy's men noticed the same thing. Brian, sitting in the lead vehicle, looked through the windscreen. "Now," he ordered. The men in the vehicles behind him prepared their weapons. Mark heard the first gunshot before he saw the muzzle flashes. A bullet struck the side of the Range Rover. Another hit the rear window. Mark ducked instinctively as more shots rang out. "Stay down!" he shouted to himself. He swerved sharply, trying to avoid the bullets.

The Range Rover moved from one side of the gravel road to the other, its tyres throwing dust into the air. The men behind him continued firing. Mark gripped the steering wheel tightly. His concentration became divided between keeping the vehicle on the road and avoiding the gunfire. Every time he looked into the rear-view mirror, another vehicle appeared behind him. The road ahead narrowed. Mark could see bushes on both sides and a sharp bend approaching. He pressed the brakes slightly, but the gravel made the vehicle unstable. Then he noticed something that made his stomach tighten. The road was ending at the corner. Beyond it was thick vegetation. There was no clear path ahead.