Reborn as an American Writer

Leading nearly twenty subordinates, Mario's men lay in ambush on both sides of a somewhat deserted street. They had just hung up a call from one of their own trailing Hobbs' group. However, these men, who were adept at drug trafficking and extorting ordinary people, had no clue what Hobbs and his team's sudden pause on the road signified. They reported back to Mario with a casual tone, saying that the target was approaching the ambush point without any unusual movements. This misled Mario into a false sense of confidence about the situation.

As the imminent clash loomed, a quadcopter drone finally arrived, hovering about a hundred meters above the street where the battle was set to erupt. In the hotel, Richard Castle and his tech-savvy companion intently watched the unfolding events, their nerves taut as they awaited the outbreak of the fight.

This was a live-action confrontation, a rarity that Castle and his companion could witness from the comfort of their hotel room. The excitement of orchestrating a scenario that led to this conflict thrilled them to no end, especially for the techie who typically dominated only in the virtual world. This behind-the-scenes control brought an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

Following their brief stop, Hobbs and his team had repositioned their vehicles, placing Hobbs' heavily armored and modified Knight XV at the forefront, followed by two full-size GMC SUVs. Hobbs intended to use his armored vehicle to withstand the firepower and forcefully break through the ambush, avoiding unnecessary skirmishes with Hernan's men. After a quick discussion with his team, he decided to prioritize completing their initial mission before anything else. Hobbs, understanding the limitations of his small combat team, knew they could only consider facing Hernan's men without the added burden of escorting Elena and Dominic's crew.

Given the circumstances, Hobbs concluded that the best strategy was to rely on the armored vehicle's resilience to push through the ambush and ensure Dominic and his team were safely on the plane back to the USA before dealing with Hernan-Reyes later.

The scenario was intriguing. Mario's men were oblivious to the fact that Hobbs, thanks to Castle's timely warning, was aware of the ambush ahead. They were eagerly waiting to surprise Hobbs and capture Dominic to claim their reward from Hernan-Reyes.

Hobbs, aware of the trap but compelled by the necessity to return to the airport, decided to press on, banking on his armored vehicle to break through. His plan was to get Dominic and the others on the plane first, then circle back to settle scores with Hernan-Reyes.

Dominic, handcuffed in the rear of the Knight XV, hoped that Hernan's men would engage Hobbs' team, providing him with a chance to escape. He wasn't too concerned about Elena, the inexperienced Brazilian police officer, and believed that if Hobbs and his team got entangled in the firefight, he could find an opportunity to free himself, subdue her, and potentially gain his freedom once more.

As Hobbs' convoy, feigning ignorance of the trap, approached Mario's ambush point, all three parties tensed up. Only Castle and his techie companion, watching from the hotel through the drone, remained relaxed. Castle had long since given up on a perfectly orchestrated plan. If Dominic could escape, Castle was prepared to continue supporting him. But if Dominic was caught or killed, he considered convincing Tej and the others to take down Hernan themselves, with Giselle and Vanessa being formidable allies.

Castle's frustration stemmed from his inability to maintain a solid strategy. His plans always seemed to unravel, leading him to abandon the idea of strategic genius altogether. Instead, he resigned himself to causing chaos and disruption, something he excelled at despite his apparent strategic shortcomings.

Hobbs' convoy was now close to the ambush. The battle was about to ignite.

With a sudden "whoosh," an RPG fired from a small two-story building on the street, officially kicking off the ambush. A streak of fire shot from the rooftop towards the leading Knight XV, striking the armored vehicle's front hood with a resounding "boom." Anticipating such an attack, Hobbs remained calm and even smugly remarked to his driver, "I knew these guys wouldn't have armor-piercing rounds, only high-explosive ones. See, I was right…"

But Hobbs' satisfaction was short-lived. To his horror, he saw several RPG-wielding attackers emerge from the nearby buildings, targeting the two GMC SUVs behind his vehicle. In rapid succession, four more rockets were launched, each hitting the SUVs dead on.

"No…" Hobbs shouted in anguish. He realized his mistake instantly. He had underestimated Hernan's determination and the attackers' capabilities. Hobbs had guessed that they would target his vehicle first, underestimating their resolve and arsenal.

The GMC SUVs, despite their imposing presence, could not withstand the relentless assault. Each vehicle was hit by two rockets, leaving the occupants severely injured and the vehicles incapacitated. The high-explosive rounds wreaked havoc, and Mario's men, equipped with automatic weapons, pounced on the crippled vehicles.

The driver of the Knight XV hesitated momentarily, unsure whether to follow Hobbs' initial plan to charge through or to stop and aid their comrades. This moment of indecision sealed their fate.

Mario's meticulous planning ensured that the ambush was comprehensive. As the Knight XV hesitated, a heavy truck roared out of a side alley, blocking the street ahead and trapping Hobbs' team. They were now surrounded and at the mercy of Mario's men.

Hobbs and his team faced a dire situation. With their rear vehicles crippled and their path blocked, they were effectively trapped. It was a desperate moment, and Hobbs knew it.

At this critical juncture, Hobbs had no choice but to unleash his full potential.

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