Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1002

After the cook disappeared into the shadows, Mira turned to the group. "Do we hit the scam compound next, or head back to the motel?"

"Since we're already out here, we might as well scout it,"

Mr. Whitlock suggested.

Mira checked the time—it was 1:00 AM, the absolute dead of night. Fortunately, the distance was manageable, and with their elite physical conditioning, stamina was a non-issue.

As the team ghosted past an empty intersection, the sounds of a scuffle echoed through the streets. They instinctively halted, melting into the alleyway to observe.

Three local thugs were violently dragging a driver out of his cab. "Leave the keys and walk away, or you die right here,"

one of the carjackers snarled.

"Boss, why are we even talking to him? Just gut him so he doesn't snitch to the cops tomorrow."

While the three thugs casually debated murder, Owen glanced at Whitlock. "We should intervene. Might score us a free ride in the process."

"You want to steal their stolen car?"

"We don't have to steal anything. We save the driver's life, and he owes us a few days of chauffeur duty."

Mr. Whitlock nodded thoughtfully. "Works for me. It's a small effort."

Mira and the others moved in silently. With a flick of the wrist, a cloud of potent sedative dust washed over the three attackers.

The thugs collapsed to the asphalt instantly.

The terrified driver threw his hands up. "Please, spare me! Just let me live, I'll do anything you want!"

"You're absolutely certain you'll do anything?"

Mr. Whitlock asked smoothly.

"Yes! You... you just saved my life. I'll do whatever you ask!"

"Is this your personal vehicle, or a rental?"

Master Ellis asked.

"It's mine."

"What's your line of work?"

"I drive a taxi to make ends meet."

"You have the guts to pick up fares out here in the dead of night?"

"Don't panic. As long as you keep your word, you'll never face our wrath."

"Drive us to the local syndicate compound."

The driver recoiled. "That... that place is a death trap!"

"Relax, just drop us off at a safe distance."

The driver turned out to be genuinely helpful. As he navigated the dark roads, he briefed Mira's team on the compound's defenses.

"They've got three layers of electrified barbed wire encasing the perimeter, and guard posts facing every direction. Everyone on watch carries a high-powered rifle.

Whether you're inside the walls or just loitering outside, if they don't recognize you, they shoot to kill on sight.

And getting captured is vastly worse. They torture you, force you into hard labor with barely enough food to survive. The second you act out or outlive your usefulness, they butcher you for your organs, or carve your remains into macabre bone trinkets for the black market..."

Approaching the compound limits, the driver slammed the brakes. "This is it. I can't take you any further. Any closer and we're dead.

If you're just scouting, you can push maybe fifty yards ahead, but no more. Otherwise, the patrols will spot you, and you'll be shot or dragged inside.

Since you saved my life, I'll give you one last piece of advice:

If they catch you, fight back with everything you have. Do whatever it takes to provoke them into killing you quickly. Do not let them take you inside alive. That is a fate infinitely worse than death."