The convoy rolled for close to forty minutes before the asphalt turned to reinforced concrete. Heavy steel perimeter gates parted as we approached, revealing a high-security subterranean black-site carved straight into the bedrock. Armed guards in full gear stood post every thirty paces, backed by automated turret systems that tracked our blacked-out Humvees the second we cleared the tunnel. The engine cut out with a heavy diesel sigh. The rear doors popped open, and I stepped out onto polished concrete, the cool, sterile air of the bunker biting at my skin. "Move," the commander grunted, gesturing down a long, harsh-lit corridor lined with reinforced titanium bulkheads. We went through three separate security checkpoints—retina scanners, metal detectors, biometric ID pads, and armed guards patting down every inch of my tactical vest. Finally, the commander led me down a narrow, windowless hallway and shoved open a heavy steel door. Inside was nothing. Just a single heavy steel table bolted to the floor, two chairs, and bare concrete walls humming with the low vibration of industrial generators. I stepped into the box, looked around at the grim, sterile setup, and let out a dry laugh. "What the fuck is this?" I muttered, turning back to face the commander. "A fucking interrogation room?" The commander stopped in the doorway, giving me a cold, deadpan stare. "No. Honestly, we're in the business of war here, Quezada—not painting and design work and shit like that. So it is what it is. Someone's going to come and talk to you soon." I pulled out the metal chair, dropped into it with a heavy thud, and propped my boots right up on the steel table, crossing my arms behind my head. "All right, whatever, dog," I said, offering him a lazy, mocking grin. "Just tell him not to keep me waiting too long." The commander let out a dry, humorless breath, his eyes narrowing at my boots propped up on the table. "Oh, it won't be long at all. I'm going to get him now," the commander said, turning on his heel. He paused at the threshold, giving me a tight, sarcastic grin over his shoulder. "And so you don't feel like it's an interrogation room... I'll leave the door cracked. How's that?" I didn't even drop my feet. I just waved a hand lazily in the air. "Yeah, whatever, dog. Just hurry up." The heavy steel door swung mostly shut, latching with a solid, weighted thud that left just a sliver of harsh fluorescent light cutting across the floor. I sat there in the quiet hum of the concrete box, listening to the muffled boot-steps fading down the hall. A minute later, the heavy latch clicked back. The door swung wide open. I started to lean forward, ready to mouth off to whatever stiff-necked suit was about to walk through, but the words died right in my throat. Holy fuck. Standing in the doorway, wearing a tailored tactical suit with the jacket unbuttoned and a familiar, crooked grin plastered across his face, was a guy I hadn't seen in over a decade. Someone I grew up with, ran streets with, and trusted like blood. Someone who was practically a brother to me. Little Billy. Billy stared at me for a second, shaking his head with a wide-ass grin, before letting out a loud laugh. "Oh, hey... I fucking finally found your ass, man," Billy said, throwing his hands up. "Goddamn, it is hard to find you out in the middle of nowhere." As I closed the distance fast on Billy, the two heavily armed tactical soldiers flanking him instantly tensed up, shifting their weight and raising their rifles just a fraction of an inch to block my path. "Whoa—hold on—" one of them barked. Billy threw out a hand, shaking his head. "No, no, man. Stand down. He's good." The guards hesitated for a split second before stepping back, letting me plow right past them. I grabbed Billy and hauled him into that heavy, bone-crushing hug, laughing as I patted his back. "Dang, dude, I never thought I'd see you again," I said, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye, my head spinning. "What's up with all this? Why am I here? What—what is going on?" I shook my head, totally confused. "I'm completely lost, man." Billy just smiled that same old crooked grin, clapping me on the shoulder. "Yeah, just sit down, dog. Relax," Billy told me, gesturing toward the steel table. "I'll go over it all with you right now, I promise. But first... how have you been, man? You look good. They didn't rough you up or anything on the way in, did they?" I let out a loud, rough laugh, shaking my head as I dropped back down into the metal chair. I kicked my boots right back up onto the steel table, totally ignoring the two heavily armed guards standing stiff by the door. "Did you forget who the fuck I am?" I asked, grinning at him. "Your commander and his little squad, man... they caught me right in the middle of executing this fucker that started fucking with me." I leaned back, crossing my arms behind my head, feeling the adrenaline finally start to level out now that I was looking at a familiar face. "And no, man, they can't rough me up. Nobody can rough me up. You know this," I told him, giving him a hard, knowing look. "If anything... I would've rather them tried to rough me up a little more than what they actually did. It would've made the ride a hell of a lot more entertaining." Billy threw his head back and let out a loud, genuine laugh, shaking his head as he pulled out the metal chair across from me. He sat down, resting his forearms on the steel table. "Yeah, that sounds about right," Billy chuckled, waving off the two guards at the door. "Give us the room, boys. Close it up." The guards hesitated for a second before stepping out, pulling the heavy steel door completely shut behind them with a loud, echoing clank. Once the room was sealed, Billy leaned in, his smile fading just a fraction as the old, serious business look crept back into his eyes. "I already read the after-action report from the quarry, homie," Billy said quietly. "I know exactly what you did to Cruz and his crew. You ain't lost a single step. But listen to me, Daniel... the reason you're sitting in this bunker right now is because we got a situation that only a ghost like you can handle."

The Box