Chapter 26 - THE BETRAYAL OF VICTORIA"Drop the gun, Whitfield," the lead mercenary barked.
I kept Vane pinned against my chest as a human shield, my derringer pressed against the side of his neck. "Tell them to stand down, Vane, or your brain matter decorates this vault door."
Vane was shivering uncontrollably. "Stand... stand down! Do what he says!"
The mercenaries hesitated, their weapons still aimed at my heart.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the steel catwalk behind me. Victoria Vance stepped out of the elevator shaft corridor, holding her automatic shotgun.
"It's over, Daniel," Victoria said quietly.
I didn't turn around, but I caught her reflection in the polished chrome trim of the vault door. Her shotgun wasn't pointed at the mercenaries.
It was pointed at the back of my head.
A cold realization washed over me. "Victoria... you weren't working for internal affairs."
"Internal affairs was retired six months ago, Daniel," Victoria sighed, her tone devoid of emotion. "My brother Julian failed because he was sloppy and arrogant. My father failed because he trusted politicians. But I don't trust anyone."
"You used me to bypass the Citadel's external defenses," I said, my mind calculating every angle, every inch of space in the narrow vault corridor.
"Vane couldn't open Vault 108 without you," Victoria explained smoothly. "And I couldn't get through Black-Shield's outer perimeter without your father's earnest deposit and your willingness to act as bait. You performed your role brilliantly, Daniel. Just like your father did for mine."
Henrik Vane let out a wheezing laugh. "You see, Daniel? There are no friends in this room! There is only capital!"
"Shut up, Vane," Victoria snapped. "Daniel, release Vane and step up to the scanner. Put your hand on the vault plate. If you do it now, I'll let Grace and your children live."
I slowly lowered my weapon from Vane's neck. I turned around to face Victoria, looking her straight in her icy blue eyes.
"You made one fatal mistake, Victoria," I whispered.
"And what's that?" she asked, easing her finger against the shotgun trigger.
"You forgot about Marcus."
CRASH!
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A three-ton steel maintenance trolley descended from the ceiling shaft above, smashing directly through the upper catwalk! Marcus came swinging down on a heavy industrial crane cable, wielding an LMG, opening fire on the Black-Shield mercenaries before he even hit the ground!
The corridor erupted into loud, chaotic hell.
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