Chapter 4 - The Hunt
I quickly cut the bindings off the head technician, a young man named Leo.
"Where did they take him?" I demanded, pulling Leo to his feet.
Leo was shaking uncontrollably, his eyes darting toward the darkest corner of the room.
"Two men in black masks dragged him out through the maintenance tunnels," Leo stammered.
I knew those tunnels connected directly to the old wine cellar and the underground vault.
Daniel had mentioned the vault once, calling it the safest place in the world.
Victor obviously knew about it too, and he needed Daniel to open it.
"Lock this door and do not let anyone in unless I give the clearance code," I told Leo.
I grabbed a heavy flashlight from the desk and rushed toward the maintenance hatch.
The tunnel was damp and smelled heavily of mildew and old earth.
I moved with silent precision, placing my feet carefully to avoid making any sound.
My mind raced, trying to figure out what Victor actually wanted from the Sterling family.
Vanessa's duffel bag from the explosion flashed in my memory.
Victor was not just here for revenge; he was here for something immensely valuable.
I heard the faint echo of heavy footsteps echoing off the stone walls ahead of me.
I turned off my flashlight, letting the absolute darkness conceal my movements.
Two of Victor's mercenaries were guarding the heavy iron door of the wine cellar.
They were armed with suppressed submachine guns and wearing night-vision goggles.
I could not simply fight them in the open; I needed a distraction.
I picked up a loose stone and tossed it hard down the opposite corridor.
The clatter echoed loudly, causing both guards to turn their weapons toward the sound.
I rushed forward in the blind spot, driving my knee into the back of the first man's leg.
He collapsed with a grunt, and I struck the pressure point on his neck, rendering him unconscious.
The second guard swung his rifle around, but I grabbed the hot barrel and redirected it upward.
A suppressed shot shattered the ceiling light above us.
I delivered a brutal strike to his throat, watching him gasp for air as he dropped to the ground.
I stepped over their bodies and slowly pushed the iron door open.
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The sight inside the wine cellar made my heart stop entirely.
Daniel was standing in the center of the room, holding a loaded handgun pointed directly at my chest.
