Chapter 6 - The Key to the CageThe heavy metal door of the gas cell groaned.
Inside, Viktor was fighting a losing battle against unconsciousness when he heard the mechanical whir of the keypad outside. Someone was typing the override code. But who? Julian’s men were dead or neutralized, and Julian himself was trapped in the control bunker.
The electronic lock blinked green.
The heavy steel door swung open. A rush of fresh, clean air swept into the cell, hitting Viktor’s lungs like an electric shock. He gasped, coughing violently as oxygen flooded his brain. Beside him, Leo stirred, groaning as color slowly returned to his pale cheeks.
Standing in the doorway, holding a bloody electronic bypass tablet, was a scruffy, mud-covered dog with glowing eyes. Behind him stood little Lily, dragging a heavy security keycard she had fished from the control room floor.
"You... you opened it," Viktor breathed, his voice cracking as he pulled his son into a protective embrace, checking him for broken bones. "How... how did you get out of the gas?"
"Shadow found the master ventilation vent," Lily said simply, wiping soot from her forehead. "And he knows how to break things when bad men aren't looking."
Viktor hoisted his son up, supporting Leo’s dead weight over his shoulder. He looked down at the little girl, a mixture of awe and terrifying respect washing over him. The most feared crime lord in Europe had just been rescued from execution—not by an army of mercenaries, but by a child and a stray mutt.
"Where is Vance?" Viktor asked, his voice dropping an octave into a tone of absolute, chilling vengeance.
"Waiting," Lily replied, pointing down the hall toward the glowing red emergency lights of the command center.
May you like
Viktor pulled his heavy-caliber pistol from his holster, checked the slide with practiced efficiency, and stepped out of the cell. "Stay here with Leo," he told the girl.
"No," Lily shook her head, her jaw set with an iron will. "I'm coming to watch."
