The crystal chandelier in Dragon Bay Manor's main hall cast dancing shadows across the marble floor as four men paced like caged animals. Maxwell Thorne, his weathered face etched with deep lines of worry, checked his gold watch for the hundredth time in the past hour.
"Where the hell is Damon?" Caleb Vance muttered, his usually pristine appearance disheveled from running his hands through his gray hair repeatedly.
Leo Wallace stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out into the darkness. "He should have been back by now. The job was supposed to be simple."
Maya Vance remained seated in one of the leather armchairs, but her knuckles were white as she gripped the armrests. "Simple? We're talking about that Hayes boy. Nothing about him has been simple so far."
Maxwell stopped pacing and turned to face the others. "Ronan Payne is fifteenth on the Earth Rankings. Fifteenth! That country bumpkin doesn't stand a chance against a professional of that caliber."
