Chapter 6 - Blood on the MarbleThe first intruder tumbled down the wooden steps, wearing the tactical black gear and night-vision goggles of a high-end corporate extraction team.
Viktor didn't hesitate. Two suppressed cracks from his Makarov punched through the darkness. The intruder dropped instantly, rolling dead to the concrete floor.
"Contact!" a voice shouted from the top of the stairs in Russian, laced with an American accent. "The boss is down! Clear the stairwell!"
A volley of submachine gun fire chewed through the wooden banister, sending white-hot splinters flying across the basement. Viktor dropped to one knee, returning fire with ruthless precision, catching the second operative through the throat as he tried to crest the landing.
Suddenly, a heavy ceramic flashbang grenade clattered down the stairs, spinning across the floor toward their position.
"Flashbang!" Viktor roared, grabbing Rachel by the tactical vest and pulling her hard behind the steel reinforcement of the server rack.
BOOM.
A blinding white flash turned the basement into daylight, followed by a high-pitched whine that temporarily deafened both of them. The concussive wave rattled their teeth.
Before the ringing in his ears could fade, heavy combat boots hit the bottom of the stairs. Two men rushed into the room, guns raised, sweeping the corners.
Rachel didn't wait for Viktor's command.
Rising from behind the server rack with cold, calculated fury, she raised the MP5 and squeezed the trigger. Thrum-thrum-thrum. The suppressed weapon spat a tight grouping into the chest of the leading operative. He collapsed backward into his partner, tangling their advance.
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Viktor finished the job with a single shot to the second man's temple.
Silence descended upon the basement once more, thick with the acrid stench of cordite, ozone, and fresh blood.
