Confidently, he stepped towards Sam, rattling his matches before pocketing them, and he took another puff. Sam tried to struggle again, but Edinson caught him with another hook, the man’s fist crashing into Sam’s jaw. The pain was excruciating, and Sam spat another pool of blood to join the rest, and he slowly raised his head to Vasquez with murderous intent in his eyes.

Vasquez smiled. A mixture of admiration and power spread across his face.

‘You are a strong man, Mr Cooper.’ Vasquez glanced back at Alex. ‘But every man is weak when it comes to a woman. Now, tell me who you really are and what the fuck you’re doing here, or I’ll put a bullet in this bitch’s skull.’

Alex squealed lightly in fear, and Sam looked to her for forgiveness.

He’d come to America to keep his promise to her.

To return her to her brother and sister.

But now, with a gun pressed to her head, a DEA agent dead, and murderous drug lord on the brink of war, Sam’s chances of keeping his word were less than none.

Their chances of survival, even less.

Chapter Two

THREE DAYS EARLIER…

‘Ladies and gentlemen, we will shortly begin our descent towards LaGuardia Airport. The weather is warm and sunny, and this flight has been exceptional.’

As the intercom cackled to signify the end of the message, Sam smirked at the well-spoken pilot’s self-praise. The self-confidence of pilots had always impressed him, but he understood. Commandeering a giant vessel and navigating it through the sky with hundreds of passengers required complete control along with expert knowledge. Sam appreciated the skill and dedication it took to sit in the cockpit of the plane, likening it to the similar requirements of staring down the scope of a rifle.

You needed to be trained.

Calm.

Emphatic.