Chapter 6 - The Devil's Bargain
I stared in complete and utter horror at the live video feed.
I immediately recognized the ancient stone carvings decorating the edge of the balcony.
It was our family's secluded and heavily fortified summer fortress deep in the northern mountains.
I forced my shaking voice to remain perfectly calm and completely steady.
I verbally agreed to absolutely all of my mother's insane, demanding terms.
I lied and told her I was walking to my lawyer's office right now to sign the papers.
She smiled in ultimate victory and abruptly ended the video call.
I had absolutely no intention of ever surrendering my hard-earned empire to her.
I immediately called in a massive, dangerous favor from a rival syndicate leader.
Within twenty tense minutes, a black unmarked helicopter landed safely on a nearby private beach.
I climbed aboard quickly and ordered the pilot to fly directly into the dangerous mountain storm.
Bright lightning flashed violently across the dark, menacing sky.
The turbulent, angry winds tossed the small helicopter around like a fragile toy.
We landed silently in a snowy, hidden clearing two miles away from the stone fortress.
I hiked relentlessly through the freezing rain and heavily accumulating snow.
My wet clothes were frozen completely solid by the time I reached the iron perimeter fence.
I cut silently through the wire and neutralized two perimeter guards with deadly efficiency.
I slipped entirely unnoticed through a hidden servant entrance into the massive stone estate.
I crept slowly down the long, carpeted hallway toward the grand main hall.
I kept my stolen automatic weapon raised and totally ready for any sudden movement.
I pushed open the heavy oak double doors of the grand dining room.
The brilliant chandelier lights suddenly blinded me as they turned on all at once.
I stepped carefully into the vast room and froze completely in my tracks.
Fifty heavily armed men were standing in a perfect, inescapable circle around me.
They all had their loaded assault rifles aimed directly at my chest.
Sitting comfortably at the head of the long wooden table was my estranged, exiled uncle.
He smiled cruelly and warmly welcomed me to my own bloody execution.
I realized with sinking dread that my mother had completely anticipated my desperate rescue attempt.
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The metallic sound of dozens of safety catches clicking off echoed loudly in the quiet room.
There was absolutely nowhere left for me to run or hide.
