Chapter 4 - The Vestry Revelation
Adrian slowly lowered his weapon, his arrogant smile returning as he watched the hope drain completely from my face.
He explained that he had discovered my hidden explosive charge three days ago while reviewing the church security footage.
He casually admitted that he had moved the actual jamming equipment into the basement, leaving a useless decoy in the vestry for me to destroy.
The federal agent stepped forward aggressively, demanding that Adrian drop his weapon and surrender peacefully to the authorities.
Adrian simply shook his head, signaling to the mercenary standing nearest to the heavy wooden doors of the vestry.
The mercenary kicked the damaged doors open, revealing the dusty, smoke-filled room behind the altar.
My heart stopped beating entirely as I saw the small figure tied tightly to a wooden chair in the center of the room.
It was my younger sister, Lily, who was supposed to be studying safely at a university in London.
She had a thick strip of duct tape covering her mouth, and her eyes were wide with absolute, paralyzing terror.
Adrian walked over and roughly grabbed Lily by her hair, pulling her head back to expose her fragile neck.
He pressed the hot barrel of his recently fired gun directly against her skin, causing her to whimper in fear.
He told me that he had intercepted her flight yesterday, keeping her as an insurance policy against my predictable betrayal.
I felt a sickening wave of nausea crash over me, realizing that my meticulous plan had just placed my only family member in mortal danger.
I begged Adrian to let her go, promising that I would give him anything he wanted if he just spared her life.
He demanded the real master drive immediately, holding out his empty hand with a triumphant, cruel smirk.
I slowly reached into my shoe, retrieving the small silver USB drive that contained the absolute destruction of his financial empire.
I took a hesitant step toward him, my hand shaking violently as I prepared to hand over my only leverage.
Lily desperately shook her head, trying to scream something vital through the thick tape covering her mouth.
May you like
She stared intensely at the federal agent standing right beside me, her eyes pleading with me to understand her silent message.
I suddenly realized that the agent had not advanced or tried to secure the room since Lily was revealed.
