Chapter 10 - Blood on the Marble
The ventilation grate gave way with a sharp, pneumatic pop. Christian dropped eight feet to the marble floor like a panther, his landing practically soundless.
Before the two armed guards could even pivot their rifles, Christian fired twice. The muffled thuds of the suppressed shots were swallowed by the vault's thick acoustics. Both guards collapsed instantly, their weapons clattering against the polished floor.
Victoria screamed, a high, piercing shriek that bounced violently between the titanium safety boxes. She backed herself against the wall, clutching her purse against her chest like a shield. ""Who are you?! Stay back!""
Julian fell sideways onto the tiles as his handlers let go. Christian didn't hesitate; he fired two more precise shots into the men holding Julian, neutralizing them before they could draw their sidearms. Claire dropped down from the duct, landing on the balls of her feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in her ankles as she sprinted toward the main terminal.
""Claire?!"" Victoria gasped, her eyes bulging in disbelief. ""You... you brought hitmen?""
""I brought what was necessary to survive your greed, Victoria,"" Claire snapped, her fingers flying across the digital console, inputting the master override sequence her father had made her memorize when she was sixteen. ""Lockdown initiated. Five minutes before the outer blast doors seal permanently.""
Julian groggily lifted his head from the blood-slicked marble, his vision swimming. He blinked up at Christian, his mouth opening in sheer terror. ""C-Christian...? No... you're dead... you died in Switzerland...""
Christian knelt beside him, his eyes completely hollow. ""I died because of the ledger you sold to Kane, Julian. Did you think dead men stay buried when you still owe them interest?""
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""I didn't sell you out!"" Julian cried, weeping openly now, the drugs wearing off just enough for raw panic to take over. ""It was Victoria! She gave Kane your flight itinerary! She negotiated the short positions on your airline stock!""
Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. She looked at Christian, then at Claire, realizing that every lie she had spun for half a decade had just collapsed inside a locked concrete tomb.
