Chapter 14 - Trapped in the Inner Sanctum
“Leo,” Dominic muttered, reading the situation instantly. He lunged for the door handle, twisting it hard, but the heavy oak mechanism held fast, reinforced by electromagnetic deadbolts controlled from the main security console.
The overhead lights flickered once, twice, and then died completely. Emergency backup generators kicked in a second later, bathing the room in a sickly, amber-tinted glow.
From the wall speaker system, a calm, measured voice filled the room.
“I’m sorry it had to come to this, Boss,” Leo’s voice echoed smoothly through the intercom, devoid of the robotic stiffness he usually projected. “You built an empire on loyalty, Dominic, but empires rot from the top down. You got soft. Bringing in an emergency room nurse with no background check because you couldn't handle a simple gunshot wound... that was your fatal flaw.”
Dominic slammed his fist against the reinforced door, a dark, primal fury breaking through his usual stoic mask. “Open the door, Leo, and I’ll make your death quick.”
“I don't think so,” Leo replied calmly. “The ventilation system in the eastern wing is currently pumping a mild, fast-acting neurotoxin into your study. In about four minutes, you and your little nurse will be fast asleep. By morning, the estate will have suffered a tragic electrical fire. Unfortunate, but accidents happen.”
Panic spiked in my chest, hot and sharp. I grabbed my medical duffel bag, unzipping it frantically. “Neurotoxin? What kind? Is it organophosphate-based or gas-phase?”
“It doesn't matter what kind it is if we don't breathe it,” Dominic said, his voice instantly regaining absolute tactical clarity. He scanned the room with desperate speed, his eyes landing on the heavy velvet drapes covering the tall bay windows.
“Help me,” he ordered, ripping the heavy fabric down in one violent motion.
I didn't hesitate. I grabbed a bottle of sterile saline wash from my bag, tore open several gauze pads, and poured the liquid over the fabric until it was thoroughly soaked.
May you like
“Breathe through this,” I instructed, pressing a damp section of the velvet against Elena’s face, then tearing another piece for Dominic. I wrapped a third piece tightly around my own nose and mouth.
“It’ll buy us two, maybe three minutes against a low-density aerosol,” I said, coughing as the first faint, sweetish odor of the gas reached our senses. “We need an exit. Now.”
