Chapter 4 - The Betrayal
I aggressively ripped the infotainment screen from the dashboard with my bare hands, silencing the terrifying voice.
Sparks flew from the exposed wires as the live video feed finally died.
The realization that the syndicate had bugged our home meant they knew absolutely everything about us.
They likely knew our routines, our bank accounts, and the addresses of our extended family.
Sending Sarah and Maya to her sister's house was no longer a safe option.
We needed to disappear completely off the grid until I could figure out how to destroy them.
I exited the highway near an abandoned industrial park on the outskirts of the city.
I parked the bullet-riddled SUV behind a row of rusted shipping containers to hide it from passing cars.
We sat in the freezing darkness, listening to the heavy rain drumming against the metal roof of the car.
Sarah held Maya tightly in her arms, rocking her back and forth to keep her calm.
I pulled my cell phone from my pocket, knowing it was probably being actively tracked.
I needed to make one final phone call before destroying the device forever.
I dialed the private number of Arthur Vance, the wealthy CEO of the logistics company where I worked as a senior manager.
Arthur had always treated me like a son, and he possessed the vast resources and private security required to hide my family.
He answered on the second ring, his voice sounding groggy from sleep.
I quickly explained the terrifying situation, detailing the home invasion and the highly coordinated ambush.
I begged him to send his private helicopter to extract Sarah and Maya to a secure location.
Arthur listened quietly, his breathing steady on the other end of the line.
He told me to stay exactly where I was and promised that help was on the way.
I thanked him profusely, feeling a massive wave of relief wash over my exhausted body.
I hung up the phone, removed the battery, and smashed the device beneath my boot.
I turned to Sarah, offering her a reassuring smile for the first time all night.
I promised her that Arthur was going to protect them while I went to the police with our story.
We waited in the cold vehicle for nearly an hour, watching the dark horizon for any sign of a helicopter.
Finally, a pair of bright headlights appeared at the far end of the industrial park.
A sleek, armored limousine pulled up slowly and stopped just fifty feet away from our hiding spot.
I recognized the vehicle immediately because it was Arthur's personal transport.
I opened my car door and stepped out into the freezing rain, waving my arms to flag them down.
The tinted rear window of the limousine slowly rolled down.
Arthur Vance leaned out, wearing a sharp tailored suit instead of pajamas.
He did not look like a man who had just been woken up in the middle of the night.
He looked directly at me with eyes completely devoid of any human warmth.
The black-market doctor who had been inside my bedroom was sitting right beside him in the luxury car.
Arthur sighed deeply, adjusting his expensive silk tie.
May you like
He looked at me and apologized, stating that good blood is incredibly hard to find these days.
Four heavily armed mercenaries instantly stepped out of the shadows, aiming assault rifles directly at my chest.
