Chapter 5 - Out of the Ashes

The overwhelming stench of gasoline filled my nose as the liquid pooled around my cheap sneakers.

Marcus struck a silver lighter, watching the flame dance with a psychotic grin on his face.

He tossed it into the puddle, and a wall of bright orange fire instantly erupted between us and the exit.

The hitmen dragged a bleeding Vincent into the back of their truck and sped out of the garage.

The flames rapidly closed in around the concrete pillar, superheating the air until it hurt to breathe.

I looked frantically around the enclosed space for any possible escape route.

There was a small ventilation grate high up on the concrete wall, completely untouched by the fire.

I dragged a heavy metal trash can against the wall and climbed on top of it.

I pulled Mia up by her arms, pushing her small body through the narrow iron grate.

“Crawl toward the light and do not look back!” I screamed over the roaring fire.

I barely managed to squeeze my own shoulders through the tight opening as the flames licked at my heels.

We tumbled out onto the wet grass in the dense woods behind the sprawling estate.

I grabbed Mia’s hand and ran blindly through the trees, terrified they would come back to finish the job.

We ran until my lungs felt like they were going to burst open.

Suddenly, a massive figure stepped out from behind a large oak tree, completely blocking our path.

I screamed and shielded Mia, bracing myself for a bullet.

A familiar voice cut through the darkness.

“Clara, put your hands down, it is me.”

I opened my eyes and saw Leo, Vincent’s fiercely loyal head of security, holding an assault rifle.

“Renzo sent me on a fake errand across town to get me away from the boss,” Leo explained angrily.

“We have to rescue him, Leo,” I begged desperately.

Leo shook his head grimly.

“We cannot negotiate because we don’t have the ledger to trade.”

I reached into the pocket of my apron and pulled out the shiny silver object.

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“Mia slipped the real drive into my pocket before the shooting started,” I revealed.

Leo’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the key to the entire criminal underworld.