Chapter 9 - The Ultimatum
Leo screamed in absolute agony, frantically gripping his violently bleeding shoulder as he collapsed on the floor.
Victor immediately stepped defensively in front of Dora, shielding her entirely from any further sniper fire.
Arthur laughed hysterically, casually swirling the amber liquid in his expensive crystal glass.
"You walked perfectly into my trap, Victor, just like a pathetic, lovesick fool," Arthur mocked viciously from outside the cage.
Victor's face was completely devoid of fear, replaced entirely by a cold, calculating, psychopathic calm.
"If you kill me, my entire syndicate will absolutely burn your empire to ashes," Victor stated with a dark, chilling confidence.
"That is precisely why I am not going to kill you," Arthur replied smoothly, pulling a small silver key from his pocket.
Arthur unlocked a heavy digital padlock on the cage door, swinging it open while his armed mercenaries kept their weapons perfectly aimed at Victor.
"The waitress steps out right now, or the sniper puts a bullet directly into her sister's head," Arthur commanded aggressively.
Dora didn't hesitate for a single fraction of a second.
She bravely pushed past Victor's protective arm and stepped completely out of the steel cage.
Arthur violently grabbed Dora by her hair, pressing the cold barrel of a handgun directly against her temple.
"No!" Victor roared furiously, lunging forward before five mercenaries aggressively beat him back with the heavy stocks of their rifles.
Arthur casually dragged Dora toward the center of the room where Mia and Jessica were tied up.
Mia sobbed hysterically, desperately straining against the thick ropes binding her wrists.
Jessica was entirely silent, completely paralyzed by the horrifying reality of the violent criminal underworld she had foolishly played in.
Arthur looked directly at Victor, who was currently restrained forcibly on his knees by three massive guards.
"I am going to give you a terrible choice, Dora," Arthur whispered cruelly into her ear.
He violently pressed the gun against Mia's forehead, then quickly pointed it directly back at Victor's chest.
"You have to choose exactly who gets to live right now," Arthur demanded with an evil grin.
"Please don't do this," Dora begged, completely blinded by hot, desperate tears.
"Choose the girl, or choose the boss, and if you don't pick in five seconds, I will simply kill them both," Arthur threatened loudly.
Dora desperately looked at Mia's terrified, tear-stained face, her heart shattering into a million tiny pieces.
Then she looked at Victor, completely expecting to see pure fear or desperate pleading in his dark eyes.
Instead, Victor subtly nodded his head toward the heavy industrial breaker box directly behind Arthur.
Dora suddenly realized exactly what the mafia boss was silently demanding her to do.
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"I choose to kill you, Arthur," Dora stated firmly, her voice completely devoid of any fear.
Before Arthur could even register her words, Dora violently kicked backward, driving her heavy heel directly into his kneecap.
