Chapter 9 - The Negotiation
Silas dragged Clara out of the bunker, his grip tight enough to bruise her arm.
Two of his mercenaries stayed behind, holding Leo and Liam at gunpoint.
Silas hauled Clara up the hidden staircase and into the main study of the mansion.
He threw her into a leather armchair, locking the door behind them.
"Sit down and start talking, nurse," Silas demanded, pulling a small silver pistol from his jacket.
Clara rubbed her bruised arm, desperately trying to formulate a plan.
She had to keep Silas talking long enough for Leo or Liam to make a move downstairs.
"The accounts are routed through Zurich," Clara lied smoothly, drawing on random details she'd heard wealthy patients discuss over the years.
"He uses a dual-authentication system. Biometrics and a vocal passcode."
Silas paced the room, his white suit glowing eerily in the moonlight filtering through the windows.
"What is the passcode?" Silas demanded, pointing the gun at her chest.
"He didn't tell me," Clara replied, keeping her voice completely steady.
"He only said the money was safe."
Silas laughed harshly, stepping closer to her.
"You're a terrible liar, Miss Bennett."
He raised the pistol and pressed the cold barrel directly against her forehead.
"I'll give you three seconds to tell me the passcode, or I'll blow your brains all over these antique books."
Clara squeezed her eyes shut, terrified, but she refused to speak.
"One," Silas counted.
Clara braced herself, waiting for the deafening crack of the gunshot.
"Two," Silas continued softly.
Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the foundation of the estate.
The floor beneath them violently shuddered, throwing Silas off balance.
He stumbled backward, the pistol slipping from his target.
Clara seized the momentary distraction.
She kicked out viciously, her heavy nursing shoe connecting solidly with Silas's kneecap.
Silas howled in pain, collapsing to the floor and dropping the gun.
Clara scrambled forward, snatching the silver pistol from the carpet.
She backed away, aiming the weapon directly at Silas's chest with trembling hands.
"Don't move," Clara ordered, her voice shaking but determined.
The study door suddenly burst open in a shower of splinters.
Leo charged into the room, covered in dust and concrete debris.
He was holding one of the mercenaries' rifles, his face smeared with blood.
He looked at Clara holding Silas at gunpoint and offered a grim, approving nod.
"Good girl," Leo grunted.
Leo quickly zip-tied Silas's hands behind his back, dragging the treacherous brother to his feet.
"Where is Liam?" Clara asked frantically.
"He's safe. I blew the secondary charge in the hallway to distract the guards," Leo explained rapidly.
"We need to get to the extraction point in the woods before Silas's reinforcements arrive."
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Clara lowered the gun, her adrenaline slowly beginning to crash.
They had survived the night, and Silas was finally captured.
