Chapter 8 - The Wall of Fire
The strong smell of cheap gasoline instantly flooded the dark, enclosed warehouse.
Rocco watched in absolute horror as thick smoke began pouring through the bottom vents of the doors.
Julian was genuinely going to burn his own family alive just to secure his criminal empire.
"We have exactly three minutes before this entire place becomes a crematorium," Elena stated weakly.
She bravely forced herself to stand up, heavily favoring her uninjured arm.
Rocco frantically scanned the massive warehouse for any possible secondary exit.
The only other way out was a heavy loading hatch located on the very roof of the building.
"I am going to carry Noah up the maintenance ladder, and you are following right behind me," Rocco ordered.
Flames violently erupted along the front wall, rapidly devouring the dry wooden crates nearby.
The intense, suffocating heat made it incredibly difficult to breathe the toxic air.
Rocco climbed the rusty metal ladder with one arm, securely holding his son tightly against his chest.
He forcefully kicked the heavy roof hatch open and pulled them both out into the cool morning air.
He reached his hand down desperately into the smoky abyss to help Elena climb up.
She grabbed his strong hand, but suddenly slipped on the incredibly hot metal rungs.
Rocco violently pulled with all of his remaining strength, successfully dragging her onto the flat roof.
They collapsed heavily onto the gravel, coughing up thick, dark smoke.
"We are completely trapped on this roof," Elena gasped, looking over the tall edge.
Dozens of Julian's heavily armed mercenaries completely surrounded the burning building down below.
Julian stepped out of a luxury SUV, casually holding a highly advanced sniper rifle.
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He aimed the deadly weapon directly at Rocco's chest with a cruel, satisfied smile.
A deafening gunshot echoed wildly through the quiet dockyards.
