Chapter 18 - The Vanguard CommanderBefore Natalie could secure the prisoner, a deep, synthetic voice echoed through the grand foyer from a portable megaphone carried by a massive, heavily armored figure stepping through the shattered front doors.
“Impressive, Ms. Vance—or should I say, former Lieutenant Sterling,” the voice mocked, dripping with arrogant amusement.
Daniel stepped out from his pillar on the landing, his weapon trained directly on the armored commander standing below. “Who are you?”
The massive commander slowly removed his tactical helmet, revealing a scarred, brutal face with cold, dead eyes. Victor Vance—Marcus’s older brother and the supreme leader of the Vanguard Syndicate.
“You killed my brother’s business interests, Daniel,” Victor sneered, stepping closer to the base of the staircase. “And you’re harboring a rogue military asset who stole our best intelligence files five years ago. Hand over the children and the woman, and we leave the rest of your estate standing. Refuse, and we burn this entire house to the ground with all of you inside.”
Daniel laughed—a cold, humorless sound that echoed off the high vaulted ceilings.
“You think you can walk into my home and make demands?” Daniel's voice rose, vibrating with supreme authority. “My grandfather built this house on blood and iron. You think a few mercenaries in cheap tactical gear are going to take it from me?”
Victor’s face twisted into an ugly snarl. He raised his hand, signaling his men to level their heavy automatic weapons at the landing. “Burn it all down!”
At that exact second, the massive chandelier above the foyer began to blink.
Victor frowned, looking up.
May you like
Natalie, standing silently on the upper walkway, pressed a small, encrypted detonator button in her palm. “Wrong house, Victor.”
Click.
