Chapter 5 - The Hostage Situation
Victoria points the deadly weapon directly at Leo's chest with a sickening smile.
"You boys are just as stupid as your pathetic father," Victoria sneers.
Sam slowly raises his hands, his heart pounding violently against his ribs.
"Put the gun down, Victoria," Sam pleads, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Hand over the red ledger right now, and I might let you live," she demands coldly.
Leo clutches the heavy notebook tightly to his chest and shakes his head.
"If we give this to you, our dad goes to prison forever," Leo argues bravely.
Victoria chuckles and steps closer to the terrified teenagers.
"Your dad is already going to prison, and your mother is going to die in a hospital bed," she says.
"I am going to take this entire empire and leave all of you with absolutely nothing," Victoria boasts.
She reaches out to grab the ledger, keeping the gun aimed directly at Sam's head.
Leo knows he has no choice but to hand it over to save his brother's life.
He slowly extends his arm to give her the notebook.
Suddenly, the glass window behind Victoria shatters into a million pieces.
A dark figure swings into the bedroom on a tactical rope, kicking Victoria squarely in the back.
The gun flies out of her hand and slides across the polished wooden floor.
The figure stands up, revealing a tall, muscular man dressed in dark tactical gear.
He pulls down his black mask, and the boys gasp in absolute shock.
It is their Uncle Marcus, Arthur's younger brother who supposedly died in a military crash five years ago.
"Grab the gun, Leo!" Marcus shouts as he wrestles a furious Victoria to the ground.
Leo scrambles across the floor and picks up the heavy silver pistol.
He points it at his wicked stepmother with shaking hands.
Victoria struggles against Marcus's strong grip, spitting curses at him.
"You are supposed to be dead!" Victoria screams in pure rage.
"I had to fake my death because you put a bounty on my head, Victoria," Marcus growls.
Marcus pulls a pair of zip-ties from his tactical vest and binds Victoria's wrists tightly.
He stands up and looks at his two stunned nephews with a warm, proud smile.
"You boys have grown up a lot," Marcus says, dusting off his dark uniform.
"Uncle Marcus, we need to save Dad from the police station," Sam urges quickly.
"We have the evidence we need right here in this ledger," Leo adds, holding up the book.
Marcus nods and leads the boys out of the bedroom toward the servant tunnels.
They navigate the dark passages and emerge into the cool night air.
Marcus guides them to an armored black SUV hidden deep in the forest.
They pile into the vehicle, and Marcus immediately starts the powerful engine.
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Just as they are about to pull onto the main road, a massive explosion rocks the ground.
The boys look back and watch in horror as their massive family mansion erupts into a tower of bright orange flames.
