Chapter 4 - Shadows Behind the Mirror
"A vault?" Anaëlle reached up to pull off the blindfold, overwhelmed by panic, but his hand instantly clamped over her wrist. His grip was firm, unyielding, yet careful not to hurt her.
"Do not touch that silk," he commanded sharply.
"Why?" she cried out, her voice echoing in the darkness. "Who are you? What did my mother have to do with you? Why can't I look at you?!"
"Because if you remove that blindfold," he said, leaning down until his lips almost brushed her ear, "the red dot currently resting on the back of your neck will trigger a bullet through your skull."
Anaëlle’s body went completely rigid. Cold terror flooded her veins, paralyzing her instantly.
"Listen to me very carefully," he whispered, his tone terrifyingly calm. "Directly behind this piano is a two-way mirror. Behind that mirror sits a man named Hector Vance—a dangerous, ruthless leader of an international syndicate. He believes I am interrogating you. He believes you are merely a pawn I brought here to break."
"Why?" she sobbed silently, tears soaking into the silk fabric covering her eyes.
"Because ten years ago, your mother worked as the chief cryptographer for Vance's empire," he revealed. "Before she disappeared, she stole the syndicate’s master ledger—a digital file containing every bribe, every assassination, and every illegal account they own. She hid the access drive inside this custom Steinway piano, locked behind a custom acoustic lock."
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Anaëlle gasped. "And... and you? Who are you working for?"
He paused, his breath hitching slightly. "I am the man trying to keep you alive. But to do that, Vance must believe you know nothing. He must believe I am holding you hostage. If you take off that blindfold, you prove you are an active participant, and he will eliminate us both."
