Chapter 2 - The Art of Survival
The deafening explosion temporarily robbed Victor of his hearing and sight.
Thick white smoke rapidly filled the suffocating air of the warehouse.
Victor grabbed Sadi by her waist and violently pulled her to the floor.
He shielded her small body with his own as automatic gunfire shredded the office.
Heavy bullets tore through the mahogany desk and shattered the glass bourbon tumbler.
These shooters were not his loyal men.
They were highly trained mercenaries moving with lethal military precision.
Victor drew his weapon and fired blindly into the thick smoke.
He heard the satisfying thud of a body hitting the concrete.
He grabbed Sadi's hand and dragged her toward a hidden steel door behind his office.
Sadi stumbled over the debris but kept a tight grip on her silver scalpel.
They slipped into the dark, narrow maintenance corridor just as the office was overrun.
Victor locked the heavy deadbolt behind them.
He turned on his tactical flashlight to inspect the trembling woman beside him.
She was bleeding heavily from her split lip, but her grip on the blade was remarkably steady.
Victor asked her exactly what was on that missing flash drive.
He knew mercenaries did not attack a mafia boss over a few stolen millions.
Sadi leaned against the damp brick wall and wiped the blood from her chin.
She confessed that her brother had not stolen money from Victor.
Arthur had stolen a digital ledger belonging to an international human trafficking cartel.
The ledger contained the names of every corrupt politician and police chief in the city.
Victor realized his entire criminal empire was now caught in the crossfire of a massive conspiracy.
He promised to protect her if she handed over the drive.
Sadi shook her head and revealed the drive was secured in a biometric vault.
She was the only living person who possessed the unique fingerprint required to open it.
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A loud, mechanical grinding noise suddenly echoed from the other side of the steel door.
The mercenaries were using a thermal cutting torch to melt through the lock.
