Chapter 2 - The Bloodline Betrayal
Three men in tactical black suits stormed into the private study.
They were not part of the standard estate security team.
Behind them walked Robert Whitfield, Daniel's older brother and the Chief Financial Officer of the company.
Robert calmly brushed wood splinters off his expensive tuxedo jacket.
"I always knew that pathetic mechanic left a backup copy somewhere," Robert sneered, looking at the laptop screen.
Daniel stood in front of Grace and Maya, shielding them with his own body.
"You killed Marcus?" Daniel demanded, his voice shaking with pure rage.
"Marcus found out I was embezzling millions from the pension fund to cover my gambling debts," Robert confessed with a cold smile.
"He refused to take the bribe, so I cut the brake lines on his truck."
Grace let out a devastating sob, burying her face in her daughter's hair.
"You are going to prison for the rest of your life, Robert," Daniel vowed.
Robert simply laughed and shook his head.
"I am the sole heir to this empire tonight, little brother," Robert said calmly.
He pulled a suppressed pistol from inside his tuxedo jacket and aimed it at Daniel's chest.
"Make it look like a murder-suicide," Robert ordered his tactical team.
"The disgraced billionaire kills the desperate maid and then himself."
Daniel grabbed the heavy brass lamp from his desk and hurled it directly at the ceiling chandelier.
The glass shattered, plunging the entire study into absolute darkness.
Gunfire erupted, the silenced bullets tearing through the leather furniture.
Daniel grabbed Grace's hand and dragged her toward the hidden servant's passage behind the bookcase.
He kicked the hidden release latch, shoving Grace and Maya into the dark tunnel just as a bullet grazed his shoulder.
He slammed the secret door shut and locked it from the inside.
They sprinted down the damp stone steps into the underground wine cellar.
Daniel pushed open the exterior cellar doors, leading them out into the freezing Massachusetts blizzard.
He ran to his private, armored sports car parked near the catering vans.
They piled inside, and Daniel slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
The car roared down the icy mountain road, leaving the estate behind in a cloud of white snow.
"We need to get to the FBI field office in Boston," Daniel breathed heavily, gripping the steering wheel.
May you like
He pressed the brake pedal as they approached a sharp, deadly curve on the mountain pass.
The brake pedal snapped all the way to the floor without any resistance.
