Chapter 12 - Ash and Accountability
Before Marco could smash the glass, Nikolai drew his sidearm and fired a single round through Marco’s shoulder. The traitor collapsed against the console, screaming in agony, his hand falling limp against the metal frame.
Nikolai stood over him, his eyes completely devoid of mercy. He reached down, gripped Marco’s broken arm, and dragged him away from the terminal.
""You don't get an easy death, Marco,"" Nikolai whispered, his voice sending shivers down Clara’s spine. ""You are going to sit in this dark, and you are going to tell me how Helena plans to exit the country.""
""Go to hell..."" Marco coughed, gasping for breath as blood pooled around him.
Nikolai knelt, pressing his thumb firmly into the bullet wound on Marco’s shoulder. The older man howled, thrashing against the cold floor.
""Stop! Stop!"" Marco shrieked. ""She has a private chopper stationed at the abandoned airfield five miles north! She has Viktor! She took him as a hostage to access the border checkpoints!""
""Viktor is alive?"" Nikolai asked, easing the pressure slightly.
""Yes! She needed his biometrics for the maritime patrol clearances!"" Marco gasped, tears of agony cutting lines through the soot on his face. ""The chopper leaves at dawn! If she crosses into international airspace, she delivers the decryption keys to the syndicate's rivals!""
Nikolai stood up, looking at the heavy vault door. ""Clara, can you access the secondary pneumatic release from this console?""
Clara stepped to the terminal, her fingers flying over the emergency interface. ""The main entrance is blocked by tons of collapsed masonry. But the auxiliary storm drain leads out toward the river. It was designed as an escape tunnel for the boss.""
""Prep Mia,"" Nikolai ordered, checking his remaining ammunition. ""We have three miles of subterranean waterways to navigate on foot.""
""Daddy, what about my leg?"" Mia asked softly, pointing down at the blood-soaked gauze on her scraped knee.
Nikolai gently scooped her into his arms, lifting her onto his hip while maintaining a firm grip on his weapon with his free hand. ""You won't have to walk a single step, little bird. I carry you.""
He turned to Marco, leaving a single spare flashlight on the floor beside the bleeding man.
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""What about me?"" Marco pleaded, his voice trembling in the dark. ""You can't leave me here to suffocate!""
Nikolai looked down at the man who had endangered his child. ""The oxygen will last two hours. Pray your mercenaries come back to dig you out.""
