Chapter 4 - The Ransom Demand
The blinding headlights completely destroyed our night vision in the pouring rain.
Dozens of red laser sights instantly appeared on our chests from the dark shadows.
"Drop your weapons immediately, or you will join the empty grave," a loud voice echoed through a megaphone.
Dad slowly placed his silver handgun onto the wet grass, silently signaling us to do the same.
Emilio violently threw his weapon into the mud, his eyes blazing with absolute hatred.
A tall man in a tailored black trench coat stepped out from behind the armored vehicles.
It was Victor Moretti, the ruthless boss of the rival syndicate.
"I must sincerely thank you for doing the heavy digging for me," Victor mocked with a cruel smile.
He gestured for his men to step forward and secure the empty mahogany casket.
"Where is my mother, Victor?" I demanded loudly, completely ignoring the guns pointed at my head.
Victor laughed a cold, soulless laugh that chilled me to the bone.
"Your mother is currently enjoying my private hospitality at a secure location," Victor replied smoothly.
He pulled a ringing cell phone from his pocket and tossed it onto the wet grass at my father's feet.
"You have exactly twenty-four hours to decrypt those hard drives and hand over the offshore funds," Victor warned.
"If the money is not in my account by midnight, I will send your wife back to you in tiny pieces."
Victor turned around and climbed safely back into his armored SUV.
The convoy of vehicles reversed out of the cemetery, leaving us alone in the freezing storm.
Dad picked up the burner phone, his hands shaking with an unprecedented level of fear.
"We need the biometric passcode to unlock those encrypted drives," Emilio stated grimly.
"The drives are hardcoded to Mom's unique retinal scan, and she is the only one who can open them," I realized out loud.
Dad looked at us with a terrifyingly dark and desperate expression.
"We are not going to pay the ransom, we are going to burn the Moretti empire to the ground," Dad declared.
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Emilio suddenly looked incredibly guilty and took a slow step backward.
"We cannot attack them, because Clarissa actually works for Victor Moretti," Emilio confessed quietly.
