Chapter 4 - The Ticking Clock
Julian threw his body across the front seat, pressing Elena firmly down beneath the dashboard.
The mercenaries slowly advanced on the car, their laser sights painting red dots across the shattered windshield.
Julian knew his reinforced luxury car could take a few bullets, but it would not hold up against military-grade hardware for long.
He reached under his seat and pulled out a heavy steel tire iron he kept for emergencies.
He whispered to Elena to stay completely flat and to trust him, no matter what happened next.
Julian kicked his door open and stepped out into the blinding lights with his hands raised.
A tall man in an expensive gray suit stepped out from behind the wall of armed guards.
It was Victor, smiling a cold, dead smile that made Julian's blood boil.
Victor slowly clapped his hands, mocking the emotional family reunion.
He casually admitted to forging the medical documents and destroying Julian's family for the sake of the sports brand.
Julian demanded that Victor let Elena go back to the field to save their dying son.
Victor laughed coldly, adjusting his expensive silk tie.
He informed Julian that his men had already picked up little Leo from the football field ten minutes ago.
Julian felt a blinding, primal rage explode in his chest at the thought of his son in danger.
Victor stated that he could not let Julian ruin the upcoming championship game with a messy public scandal.
He ordered his men to execute Elena in the car and to lock Julian in a private psychiatric facility until the season ended.
One of the mercenaries stepped forward, aiming his rifle directly at the passenger side door.
Julian did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second.
He hurled the heavy steel tire iron straight into the overhead floodlight, plunging the garage into semi-darkness.
He used his world-class speed to tackle the nearest gunman, sweeping the man's legs and stealing his sidearm.
Julian fired two warning shots into the ceiling, creating a massive echo that sent the mercenaries scrambling for cover.
He dove back into the driver's seat, threw the car in reverse, and slammed the gas pedal down.
The heavy BMW smashed backward through the weakened metal gate, breaking them out into the rainy street.
Julian drove frantically into the city night, his heart pounding violently against his ribs.
Elena sat up, screaming that they needed to find Victor's hidden compound to save Leo.
Julian hit the brakes hard as all the digital screens on his dashboard suddenly went completely black.
The engine sputtered and died instantly in the middle of a deserted intersection.
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Victor had used the car's remote satellite system to kill the engine completely.
Julian looked out the window and saw three black SUVs rapidly approaching from all four directions of the intersection.
