Chapter 2 - The Getaway
The acrid white smoke burned my eyes and clawed at the back of my throat.
I stumbled blindly as Arthur pulled me through the kitchen and out the back door.
Heavy footsteps crunched on the gravel at the front of the house.
Men were shouting to each other in a language I did not understand.
Arthur shoved me toward a sleek, black sedan parked in the alleyway.
"Get in the passenger seat and keep your head down!"
I didn't argue, throwing myself into the leather seat and curling into a tight ball.
Arthur jumped into the driver's seat and slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
The tires squealed in protest as the heavy car tore out of the alley and into the street.
I dared to peek over the dashboard and saw two black SUVs pull out behind us.
"Who are those people?" I screamed over the roar of the engine.
"They are Carl's former lieutenants," Arthur replied, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.
"They know Carl hid the access codes to the offshore accounts somewhere on your person."
I frantically patted my pockets, my mind racing.
"I don't have anything, I only met him a few months ago!"
Arthur swerved hard to the left, narrowly dodging an oncoming delivery truck.
Gunshots echoed through the streets, and a bullet shattered our rear windshield.
I screamed and covered my head as glass rained down on the backseat.
"Carl gave you a wedding ring," Arthur shouted, gripping the steering wheel.
I looked down at the simple, silver band Carl had slipped onto my finger yesterday.
"It's just a cheap piece of metal," I cried out.
"It is a biometric storage drive containing everything the syndicate desires," Arthur explained.
He suddenly slammed on the brakes, turning into an abandoned industrial park.
The car skidded to a halt inside a dark, empty warehouse.
Arthur turned off the engine and locked the car doors with a loud click.
May you like
He slowly turned to face me, raising his handgun and pointing it directly at my chest.
"Now, give me the ring, and I might make your death quick."
