Chapter 5 - Water and Flame
The crash threw Leo violently against the reinforced cage. Metal groaned, tires blew out with pistol-shot cracks, and the van careened off the gravel shoulder, rolling down the embankment before lodging upside down against a cluster of ancient pine trees. Blood ran warm down Leo’s temple. Up front, the tactical guards were knocked out cold, slumped over shattered airbags. Fire flickered along the ruptured fuel lines near the rear axle. Using the jagged edge of a shattered steel bracket, Leo sawed frantically through the nylon zip-ties binding his feet. Handcuffs still bit into his wrists behind his back. The pungent stench of gasoline filled the cabin, and outside, vehicle doors slammed shut. Heavy footsteps crunched through pine needles. A voice called out with chilling calm: ""Make sure Vance doesn't crawl out. Check his pockets for the drive, then burn the wreck."" Leo recognized the voice instantly: Marcus Drake, Mercer's chief of security. Leo drew a ragged breath, twisted violently, and kicked through the mangled rear door hinge into the freezing river darkness.
