Chapter 8: I’ll Give You Thirty Seconds—Move Aside!

Highway 94.

Armed SWAT officers were scattered in various concealed positions, their dark gun barrels aimed at the highway.

Roadblocks were ready and waiting, able to seal off the road at any moment.

Heavy machine guns stood poised to fire.

This was a carefully arranged ambush.

The Deputy Governor's orders were crystal clear—that man named Leo was going to Oak Brook Estate for revenge, and this road was the only way there.

However.

From the setup completed at 1 AM until now, as dawn broke, a full six hours had passed.

That man named Leo hadn't shown even a shadow of himself.

SWAT Captain Matthew Hawkins leaned against the car door, wearily rubbing his temples and taking a big gulp of stone-cold coffee.

"Damn it, what a shit assignment."

He looked up at the gloomy sky. Though the autumn rain had stopped, the air still hung heavy with damp cold.

The SWAT officers nearby also looked exhausted, grumbling quietly.

"Captain, we've been crouching here all night. My legs are numb, and we haven't seen a single soul."

"If you ask me, he probably ran. Last night, he took out Mr. Romano, then broke into St. Andrew's Private Psychiatric Hospital. Anyone would get the hell out of here. You'd have to be crazy to stick around Chicago."

"Plus..."

An older SWAT officer lowered his voice and jerked his chin toward Oak Brook Estate.

"Even if this Leo does show up, it's not our problem. You know how many people are in that estate? At least a hundred armed personnel, heavy machine guns, snipers—you name it."

"Bottom line, we're just sitting here putting on a show for the old Deputy Governor, kissing up to him."

"Shh! Keep it down. If anyone hears you, you can kiss your badge goodbye."

Matthew listened to his men's complaints, frowning but not scolding them.

Honestly, he was thinking the same thing.

The Deputy Governor ordered an ambush in the middle of the night, mobilizing such a massive operation, all to stop one person?

Even if this Leo was really dangerous, he couldn't be stupid enough to show up in broad daylight asking to die.

Besides, Oak Brook Estate itself was a fortress. The Romano family didn't need police help at all.

"Forget it, we'll wait one more hour."

Matthew checked his watch—it was almost 7 AM.

"If there's still no movement, we pack up..."

His words cut off abruptly.

A deep engine roar came from the far end of the highway.

Everyone instantly went on alert.

Matthew whipped his head around, looking toward the sound.

At the end of the fog-shrouded highway, an M113 armored personnel carrier, like a steel beast, was driving toward them at an unhurried pace.

Its treads crushed the asphalt, making an ear-splitting metallic grinding sound.

"What's going on?"

"An armored vehicle? Military?"

"Or reinforcements for us?"

The SWAT officers looked at each other, nobody daring to make a move.

Matthew frowned, raising his binoculars to observe.

An M113 armored personnel carrier—that was military equipment.

But headquarters hadn't notified them of any military support.

And at this time, why would an armored vehicle appear on this highway?

"Stay alert!"

Matthew ordered in a deep voice, a vague unease growing in his chest.

"It might be a military vehicle that wandered in by mistake, or..."

His words stopped dead.

Because.

About thirty feet from the roadblock, the M113 armored vehicle slowly came to a halt.

The top hatch opened.

A young man in a black suit stood up from inside, then leaped down, landing steadily on the road.

In that instant.

All the SWAT officers froze.

"He... he actually came?"

"My God, this lunatic!"

"That's Leo! It's him!"

The officers who'd been complaining moments ago suddenly had their eyes wide open, all sleepiness gone.

Nobody had expected that man named Leo would actually dare to show up in broad daylight, driving an armored vehicle, bold as brass!

"All units on alert! Set up the blockade!"

Matthew straightened up sharply, drew his service weapon, and shouted.

The SWAT officers moved quickly, pushing the roadblocks into the middle of the highway. Dozens of men spread out, gun barrels all pointing at the approaching young man in black.

Armored riot vehicles rolled out from the trees, heavy machine guns aimed at the target.

However.

Leo acted as if he didn't see these weapons at all, continuing to walk forward.

When he stopped less than five feet from the roadblock, he paused.

"Your captain—have him come out to see me."

"Who the hell do you think you are? Talking to our captain like that!"

A hot-headed young SWAT officer got angry and raised his gun to rush forward.

"Everyone, calm down!"

Matthew grabbed him, took a deep breath to suppress his unease, and ordered in a deep voice, "Surround him! Circle him! But without my order, nobody fires!"

Dozens of SWAT officers quickly spread out, forming an airtight circle.

A mass of dark gun barrels locked onto Leo from all directions.

Matthew's order not to shoot wasn't because he was being cautious—it was because he knew what an armored vehicle meant. The man before them was definitely not simple!

Leo pulled a cigar from his pocket, lit it without hurry, took a deep drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"I'm in a hurry."

He glanced at the surrounding SWAT officers, his tone flat.

"You've got thirty seconds. Move aside!"

Meanwhile.

State Capitol Building, temporary command center.

Deputy Governor Robert sat in his suit and tie before a huge display screen.

On the screen, live footage from Highway 94 was being transmitted.

Watching Leo surrounded on all sides, a smug, cold smile appeared on his face.

"He actually came."

Robert picked up his coffee and took a light sip.

He'd originally thought Leo would move under the cover of darkness. After waiting all night without seeing anyone, he'd been about to withdraw.

He never expected this madman would dare show up in broad daylight.

If this wasn't walking into a trap, what was?

"You think you can get to Oak Brook Estate?"

Robert laughed coldly.

"Today, I'll show you what the power of authority means."

He picked up the communicator, his voice icy. "Captain Hawkins, this is Deputy Governor Robert."

"Mr. Connor!"

From the communicator came Matthew's slightly tense voice.

"Target is surrounded, awaiting your instructions!"

Robert's smile grew wider.

The Godfather had told him to eliminate Leo, so he'd have this arrogant young man die under state police gunfire.

Afterward, all he'd need was to fabricate an excuse about "armed resistance to arrest, killed on the spot," and everything would be smoothed over.

Nobody would speak up for a dead man.

"All units, listen up!"

Robert suddenly stood, his voice rising, triumphant. "Kill that madman named Leo!"

"I repeat, kill the target!"

However.

What came through the communicator wasn't gunfire, but Matthew's hesitant voice.

"Mr. Connor... the target is driving a military armored vehicle. This situation is unusual. I think we need to verify first..."

"Verify? Verify what?"

Robert's face darkened as he barked, "I'm ordering you to open fire immediately! Matthew, are you trying to disobey orders?!"

"No, Mr. Connor, it's just that military armored vehicles aren't something ordinary people can get. This Leo's background might be..."

"I don't care about his background!"

Robert roared in exasperation, "I want him dead right now! Immediately! This instant! Do you hear me?"

Just then.

On Highway 94.

The satellite phone on Matthew's belt suddenly rang!

It was an encrypted channel.

Only federal-level or higher orders would be transmitted through this line.

"Hello, this is State Police..."