Chapter 4 - The Ransom Note
Bruno let out a deep, ferocious growl, fighting aggressively against the thick metal chain binding his neck.
Seeing my dog alive gave me a sudden, massive surge of adrenaline.
"Let the dog and the lawyer go, Victor," I shouted over the pouring rain, stepping protectively in front of Marcus.
Victor laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed terribly across the ruined concrete lot.
"You are in absolutely no position to make demands, Adrian," the scarred enforcer sneered.
He pulled a heavy, suppressed pistol from his tactical vest and aimed it directly at Bruno's massive head.
"I want the master passwords to the remaining corporate accounts, or the beast dies right here," Victor commanded.
I knew that if I gave him the passwords, he would simply execute all three of us the moment the transfer cleared.
"I need my secure laptop from my car to initiate the encrypted transfer," I bluffed, slowly backing toward my vehicle.
Victor nodded to two of his armed guards, gesturing for them to escort me to the sports car.
As I reached the driver's side door, I secretly pressed a hidden panic button located beneath the door handle.
The button instantly triggered a massive, deafening explosion of tear gas from the car's customized defense system.
A thick, blinding cloud of white chemical smoke immediately engulfed the guards and the parking lot.
"Run!" I roared, grabbing Marcus by the collar and shoving him blindly toward the main street.
Automatic gunfire erupted wildly in the thick smoke, bullets sparking dangerously against the wet concrete.
I could hear Bruno barking fiercely, followed by the terrifying sound of struggling men.
I managed to drag Marcus down a dark, narrow alleyway, completely escaping the chaotic slaughterhouse grounds.
We collapsed behind a rusted dumpster, gasping for breathable air as the tear gas burned our lungs.
"We left Bruno behind," Marcus choked out, his face covered in rain and blood.
"I couldn't risk Victor shooting him in the crossfire," I explained, my heart breaking with guilt.
My cell phone suddenly vibrated violently in my soaked jacket pocket.
I answered the unknown number, expecting to hear Victor's furious, threatening voice.
Instead, I heard the terrified, high-pitched crying of a small child.
"Mr. Adrian, please help me!" little Sofia screamed into the receiver.
Vivienne's cold, emotionless voice smoothly interrupted the child's panicked cries.
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"I snatched the maid's brat while you were out playing hero, Adrian."
"Bring me the crypto ledger to the private airfield in twenty minutes, or I will drop this child out of a moving airplane."
