Chapter 17 - Cornering the Rat
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The sub-basement was eerily quiet compared to the chaos erupting upstairs.
Victor reloaded his weapon with a spare magazine from his tuxedo pocket. He moved with a cold, terrifying predatory grace, signaling Emma to stay close behind him.
They approached the reinforced steel door of the central security hub. Through the thick glass window, they could see Julian sitting at the master console. He was frantically typing on a keyboard, monitoring a wall of security feeds, directing the Falcone assassins via a hardwired microphone.
“They’re stuck in the ballroom!” Julian yelled into the mic. “Find Victor! Check the gardens!”
Victor didn't bother trying the door handle. He stepped back and fired two shots directly into the electronic locking mechanism. The keypad shattered in a shower of sparks.
Victor kicked the heavy steel door open.
Julian spun around in his swivel chair, his face draining of all color when he saw his cousin standing in the doorway, very much alive, with a gun pointed directly at his chest.
“Victor,” Julian choked out, raising his hands in surrender. “Victor, wait. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Step away from the console, Julian,” Victor said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
Julian scrambled backward, tripping over his own feet and crashing to the floor. He looked at Emma, who was standing fiercely beside Victor.
“You,” Julian spat, pointing a shaking finger at her. “You ruined everything! You stupid, fat—”
Victor crossed the room in two strides and kicked Julian viciously in the ribs. The crack of bone echoed in the small room. Julian screamed, curling into a ball on the floor.
“Do not speak to her,” Victor growled, pressing the barrel of his gun against Julian’s forehead. “Do not even look at her.”
Emma rushed to the master console. She didn't know much about security software, but she knew how to read a screen. She found the toggle switch for the signal jammer and slammed it off.
Instantly, the radio on Victor’s belt crackled to life.
“Boss! Boss, do you copy?!” Marco’s frantic voice flooded the room.
May you like
“I copy, Marco,” Victor said coldly, keeping his gun on Julian. “The jammer is down. The hitmen are Falcone soldiers. Show them no mercy. And clean my house.”
“With pleasure, Boss,” Marco replied.
