Chapter 2 - The Blood at the Gate
Vincent walked out the front doors of the estate without a jacket.
The morning air was crisp and completely still.
A black SUV idled just beyond the reinforced iron security gates.
A massive Russian enforcer leaned against the hood of the vehicle.
He was smoking a cigarette and smiling arrogantly at the Costa security guards.
Vincent approached the gate with Aleandro walking silently beside him.
"Open it."
Vincent ordered the guard at the control box.
The heavy iron gates slowly rolled open with a mechanical hum.
The enforcer tossed his cigarette onto the pristine driveway.
"Good morning, Mr. Costa."
The Russian spoke with a thick, heavy accent.
"Anton sent me to collect our property."
Vincent stopped walking.
"I do not have your property."
The enforcer laughed and shook his head.
"The girl belongs to us until her brother pays his debt."
He took a step forward.
"Send the maid out here, or Anton will consider this an act of war."
Vincent did not blink.
He drew the Glock from his waistband and fired a single shot directly into the enforcer's forehead.
The massive man collapsed backward onto the gravel driveway.
The Costa guards did not even flinch at the sudden violence.
"Drag him into the woods and burn the vehicle."
Vincent turned his back on the corpse.
Suddenly, a cell phone began to ring from inside the dead man's jacket.
Vincent stopped and walked back to the lifeless body.
He reached into the blood-soaked coat and pulled out a cheap burner phone.
He looked at the glowing screen.
A text message had just arrived from an unknown number.
"The girl has been moved to the second-floor office."
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Vincent felt the blood freeze in his veins.
Someone inside his own house was giving the Russians live updates.
