A CROWN OF BROKEN BONES

Elena stepped out from the shadows of the catwalk directly above the idling armored van. She didn't drop down; she fired twice through the rusted steel grating, putting two rounds through the vehicle's engine block. The radiator hissed violently, spewing a thick cloud of scalding white steam into the loading dock.

""Ambush!"" Julian’s lead mercenary shouted, pivoting to fire, but the Vance operators had already flanked the chamber.

Automatic fire erupted, a blinding symphony of muzzle flashes illuminating the concrete walls. Elena vaulted over the catwalk railing, her torn white dress billowing behind her like a shroud as she dropped down onto the roof of the ruined van, absorbing the impact with fluid grace.

She rolled forward, dropping off the hood just as a mercenary turned to face her. In one unbroken motion, Elena drew her combat knife, slashing across the operative's tactical vest harness, severing his sling, and driving her heel into his knee joint with sickening crunch. The man collapsed, and Elena claimed his sidearm before he hit the ground.

Chaos reigned in the steam. Charles Sterling scrambled frantically under the chassis of a rusty forklift, while Chad rushed out of the tunnel, throwing his body over his bound mother to shield her from the stray ricochets.

Through the drifting haze of white smoke, Julian Thorne stood his ground. He didn't fire wildly. He held his gold-plated pistol with two hands, his eyes tracking the moving silhouette of the white bridal gown.

""You're very impressive, Elena,"" Julian called out, his voice steady despite the carnage around him. ""Your father was a blunt instrument. A brute who ruled through terror. But you... you have finesse. It's almost a shame to ruin such a rare creature.""

A shot rang out, punching through the brickwork an inch from Elena’s cheek as she darted behind a steel pillar.

""You talk too much for a man whose empire is burning,"" Elena retorted, ejecting the half-empty magazine from her captured pistol and sliding a fresh one into place.

""My empire isn't burning, my dear,"" Julian chuckled, stepping backward toward an auxiliary elevator shaft. ""The transfer you executed forty minutes ago? Did you really think you cracked my syndicate’s core mainframe without an invitation?""