Chapter 6 - The Syndicate's Bargain
The word 'Syndicate' echoed through the dark safehouse, freezing the blood completely in my veins.
I pulled Lily tighter against my chest, desperately trying to shield her from the impeccably dressed monster standing in the doorway.
Viktor tapped his silver cane rhythmically against the concrete floor.
"You have caused me a great deal of trouble tonight, Arthur," Viktor said smoothly.
"Elena and her corporate board think they can simply bypass my organization and sell your AI on the black market without my permission."
He stepped fully into the room, two massive bodyguards melting out of the shadows behind him.
"I blew up the ceiling in the parking garage to send Elena a very clear message."
"Chicago belongs to me."
"And so do the Vanguard codes."
Arthur stood his ground, refusing to show any fear despite being completely unarmed.
"The codes require a biometric scan to unlock, Viktor," Arthur stated flatly.
"You can't just torture them out of me."
Viktor smiled a cold, terrifying smile that did not reach his eyes.
"I am fully aware of how your security works, Arthur."
"Which is exactly why I am not going to torture you."
He pointed his silver cane directly at me.
"I am going to take the mother."
My heart stopped completely.
"No!" Arthur shouted, lunging forward desperately.
One of the massive bodyguards stepped smoothly in front of Viktor and struck Arthur brutally in the chest with the butt of a rifle.
Arthur collapsed to the floor, violently gasping for air as his ribs cracked.
Viktor ignored him entirely and walked slowly toward me.
"The little girl is completely useless to me if she is terrified," Viktor explained calmly.
"Children do not cooperate well under direct pressure."
He reached out and gently stroked Lily’s terrified cheek with a gloved finger.
"But if I hold her mother hostage in a secure location..."
"The little girl will gladly walk into the Vanguard headquarters and place her hand on that scanner to save your life."
I shoved his hand away fiercely, stepping between him and my weeping daughter.
"Don't you dare touch her," I snarled, pure maternal adrenaline flooding my system.
Viktor chuckled softly, entirely unbothered by my defiance.
"You have spirit. I respect that."
He snapped his fingers, and the two bodyguards instantly grabbed my arms, wrenching me violently away from Lily.
"Mommy!" Lily screamed, reaching out for me desperately.
"Arthur, protect her!" I shrieked as they dragged me backward toward the door.
Arthur struggled to his knees, blood pouring rapidly from his mouth.
"I won't let them hurt her!" Arthur promised fiercely.
Viktor paused in the doorway, looking back at the battered CEO and the crying child.
"You have exactly twelve hours to get that child into the Vanguard building and unlock the codes," Viktor ordered.
"If you fail, I will send the mother back to you in very small, very separate boxes."
He turned and walked out into the dark warehouse, his bodyguards dragging me along behind him.
They threw me roughly into the back of an armored transport van and slammed the heavy doors shut.
I sat in the pitch-black darkness, tears streaming down my face as the van tore away from the safehouse.
I had no idea where they were taking me.
But as the van hit a sudden pothole, a heavy, metallic object rolled across the floor and hit my foot.
I reached down in the dark and felt the cold steel of a suppressed pistol.
Arthur hadn't been completely unarmed.
May you like
He had slipped his weapon into the van during the struggle.
And now, I was locked in a dark metal box with a loaded gun and absolutely nothing left to lose.
