Chapter 5 - The Lockdown
Vincent did not hesitate for a fraction of a second.
He raised his pistol and fired two precise shots directly into Marcus’s chest.
The traitor collapsed backward into the hallway, his assault rifle clattering uselessly to the floor.
More shouts echoed from the corridor as the rest of the rogue security team rushed toward the office.
Vincent grabbed Fay by the waist and hauled her to her feet.
He dragged her toward the massive bookshelf covering the western wall.
He slammed his hand against a hidden panel disguised as a leather-bound dictionary.
The entire bookshelf slid open smoothly, revealing a dark, steel-reinforced panic room.
Vincent shoved Fay inside just as bullets began tearing through the office walls.
He jumped in after her and hit the emergency override button.
The heavy steel door slammed shut and sealed with a loud, hydraulic hiss, plunging them into absolute darkness.
Emergency red lights flickered on, illuminating the claustrophobic space.
Vincent slumped against the steel wall, breathing heavily.
Fay realized with a jolt of terror that the left sleeve of his white shirt was soaked in bright red blood.
"You're shot," Fay panicked, her hands hovering helplessly over his bleeding shoulder.
"It is just a graze," Vincent grunted, waving off her concern.
He pointed to a metal cabinet bolted to the wall.
"Get the trauma kit," he ordered through gritted teeth.
Fay scrambled to the cabinet, tore it open, and pulled out bandages and antiseptic.
She quickly cut away the ruined fabric of his shirt and pressed a thick gauze pad hard against his bleeding shoulder.
Vincent hissed in pain but did not pull away from her touch.
He reached over with his good arm and activated the security monitors mounted on the wall.
The screens flickered to life, showing live feeds of the heavily armed mercenaries sweeping the mansion.
Fay watched in horror as the men systematically destroyed the beautiful estate.
Then, she noticed something strange on the ballroom camera feed.
The leader of the mercenaries was holding up a printed photograph and showing it to the surviving staff members.
Vincent zoomed in on the camera feed to get a better look at the picture.
Fay’s blood ran completely cold.
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The mercenaries were not holding up a picture of Vincent Cross.
They were holding a picture of Fay.
