Chapter 17 - Blood in the Storm
We stepped inside the cavernous warehouse. Rain leaked through the shattered skylights, crashing onto rusted metal beams sixty feet above.
In the center of the flooded floor, illuminated by crude halogen work lights, stood Damon Kane, Julian Sterling, and five heavily armed mercenaries. Mia was sitting on a metal crate, holding a juice box Damon had given her.
The moment Mia saw us, her face lit up. “Mommy! Mr. Adrian! Look, they have a big boat outside!”
“Stay right there, sweetie,” I called out, keeping my voice calm despite the terror racing through my veins.
Damon stepped forward, clutching a digital tablet linked to the Kane Global trust vaults. “The master key, Adrian. Transfer the equity codes now.”
Adrian walked forward slowly, holding a flash drive up between two fingers. “Release the girl first.”
“Do I look stupid to you?” Julian sneered, pulling a pistol and aiming it directly at Mia. “Transfer the files, or I end the Kane bloodline right here!”
In that fraction of a second, Mia looked straight at Julian, then at Adrian, and did something completely unexpected.
“You’re not my daddy,” Mia said fiercely to Julian. “My daddy is handsome, and he doesn't hide behind big guns!”
Mia kicked Julian hard in the shin with her light-up sneaker.
May you like
Julian yelled in pain, dropping his weapon slightly.
“NOW!” Adrian roared.
