Chapter 53
The North Atlantic was a violent, churning nightmare of black water and freezing rain.
The stealth cargo plane dropped altitude rapidly, skimming dangerously close to the cresting waves.
Cole quickly helped Ava into a thick, insulated neoprene survival suit. He gently woke Nora, slipping a specially designed child-sized thermal suit over her pajamas. The little girl whimpered, frightened by the roaring engines and the frantic movement.
"It's okay, little boss," Cole whispered, kissing her forehead. "We are going for a swim. But you have to hold your breath for a tiny bit. Can you be brave for me?"
Nora nodded, her blue eyes wide, clutching her white bunny tightly inside the waterproof casing Cole had provided.
"Donovan, rig the explosive charges to the avionics panel and the primary fuel lines," Cole commanded, strapping on his own survival gear and rebreather. "I want this plane in a million pieces the moment it hits the water. We leave no black box."
"Charges set, Boss," Donovan grunted, setting the timer. "We have ninety seconds."
"Open the ramp!" Cole yelled to the pilot, who had locked the controls and rushed to the back of the plane to gear up.
The heavy rear ramp lowered, unleashing a deafening, freezing gale into the cabin. Below them, the ocean raged.
"The submersible is holding position two hundred feet below our coordinates," Sarah confirmed over the comms from Montana. "Their sonar is pinging your transponder, Cole."
"Jump!" Cole roared.
He didn't hesitate. He grabbed Ava’s hand and stepped off the edge of the ramp, plummeting into the freezing abyss. Donovan and the pilot followed a split second later.
They hit the icy water with bone-jarring force. The cold was an instant, paralyzing shock, but the survival suits held. Cole kicked hard, pulling Ava beneath the turbulent surface just as the cargo plane above them detonated in a spectacular, blinding fireball.
The explosion rained burning metal and aviation fuel across the surface of the ocean, creating a chaotic inferno that completely masked their descent.
Cole activated his underwater propulsion device, dragging Ava deeper into the dark, silent water. The crushing pressure was agonizing, but they couldn't risk returning to the surface.
Through the murky gloom, a faint, rhythmic green light pulsed in the distance.
It was the stealth submersible.
They swam toward it, muscles burning, lungs screaming for oxygen. The heavy airlock doors of the sub hissed open.
Cole pushed Ava and Nora inside, following immediately with Donovan and the pilot. The doors sealed shut, and the powerful pumps quickly drained the freezing seawater from the chamber.
The inner airlock door opened.
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Standing in the sterile, brightly lit corridor of the submersible was Silas, the giant enforcer of the Castalano syndicate, holding a heavy assault rifle.
"Welcome to the Leviathan, Ghost," Silas rumbled, his pale blue eyes scanning the drenched, exhausted team. "The Boss is waiting."
