Chapter 8 - The Underground Escape
Damian watched the dead man bark orders to the mercenaries on the screen.
Victor was alive, and he was methodically hunting them room by room.
Damian knew the panic room's heavy steel door would not hold forever against cutting torches.
He walked over to the center of the room and rolled back the expensive Persian rug.
Beneath it was a rusted iron grate covering an old Prohibition-era smuggling tunnel.
Damian pulled the heavy grate open and shined his flashlight into the darkness.
He told Luca and the doctor to climb down the ladder immediately.
Damian strapped Mia to his chest using a tactical sling and followed them down.
They crawled through the damp, narrow tunnel for nearly two miles.
The air was thick with dirt and the smell of ancient rot.
They finally reached the exit hatch and pushed it open.
They emerged into the freezing night air of the dense Pennsylvania woods.
Damian heard the unmistakable barking of tracking dogs closing in fast.
Victor's men had anticipated the escape route and were already waiting for them.
Dozens of flashlights pierced the trees, surrounding them from every direction.
Damian raised his pistol, preparing for a final, hopeless shootout.
Suddenly, a massive black SUV roared out of the darkness without its headlights on.
The vehicle smashed through the line of mercenaries, sending bodies flying into the trees.
The SUV skidded to a halt and the passenger doors flew open.
Luca yelled from the driver's seat for everyone to get in immediately.
Damian threw Mia and the doctor into the back and dove into the passenger seat.
Luca slammed the gas pedal and they sped away into the night.
Mia calmly reached into the pocket of her little dress.
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She pulled out a silver ring and handed it across the console to Luca.
Luca went completely pale and admitted he had helped Elena fake her death because Damian's father was still alive.
