Chapter 10 - The Last Stand of Vance Manor
Christian drew a deep, steadying breath. The doubts that had poisoned his mind were incinerated, replaced by a cold, pristine rage. Viktor Moretti hadn't just attacked a rival syndicate; he had targeted a mother fighting for her child's life, and he had threatened the only flesh and blood Christian had left in this world.
""Julian,"" Christian spoke clearly into the wall comms. ""Activate Protocol Cerberus. Evacuate all secondary staff through the western drainage tunnel. You and I will hold the choke point at the armory stairs.""
""Understood, Boss. It’s an honor,"" Julian replied without a shred of hesitation.
Christian walked over to the tactical locker. He pulled out a lightweight Kevlar vest, adjusted the straps, and strapped it over his dark shirt. He pulled two extra magazines from the shelf, sliding them into his tactical belt, followed by a heavy combat shotgun.
He walked back to Serena, who was clutching Mia tightly, both of them staring at his weapons with wide, frightened eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy titanium keycard and a small velvet pouch.
""Listen to me carefully,"" Christian said, kneeling down so he was level with them. ""Behind that steel locker is an emergency escape hatch. It leads to a private tram beneath the hill, connecting to my private airfield three miles out. The pilot has orders to fly on this keycard alone. The coordinates are already locked in for Switzerland.""
Serena looked at him, horror dawning in her eyes. ""You're not coming with us?""
""I am the target,"" Christian said grimly. ""If I board that tram, Viktor will bring down the mountain to stop it. I stay here and cut the head off the snake.""
He opened the velvet pouch, pulling out a solid gold signet ring bearing the Vance crest—a snarling wolf wrapped in iron chains. He took Mia’s small hand, slipping the ring onto her thumb. It was absurdly oversized, but she closed her tiny fist around it.
""This will open every vault in Zurich,"" Christian told the child, his voice softening into something undeniably tender. ""You take care of your mother, Mia. And get your heart fixed.""
Mia looked at the heavy gold ring, then reached out, grabbing Christian’s tactical vest with both hands, refusing to let him stand.
""Fixers don't run away,"" she said, her hazel eyes glistening with fresh tears. ""You fixed Bunny. Now you gotta stay and fix this.""
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""I am fixing it, little one,"" Christian whispered, gently placing his hand atop her head, feeling the soft curls between his scarred fingers. ""By making sure the monsters never follow you again.""
He pulled her arms away, shoved them toward the open utility hatch behind the locker, and sealed the latch behind them. The instant the lock clicked, the blast doors of the upper bunker groaned under a massive thermite explosion. The war had arrived.
