CHAPTER 7 — THE LAST BARGAIN
CHAPTER 7 — THE LAST BARGAIN
The explosion shook the entire west wing of Malone Estate.
Connor rolled across the marble floor as bullets tore through the dining hall. His guards returned fire while smoke swallowed the room.
"Protect the family!" he shouted.
But his thoughts were already elsewhere.
Sarah.
Gracie.
He sprinted from the dining hall with Vincent close behind.
The emergency lights flickered red through the dark corridors.
Every security camera was offline.
Every electronic lock had failed.
This wasn't just an attack.
It had been designed by someone who knew the estate inside and out.
Halfway to the medical wing, Connor found three of his guards lying unconscious.
The hallway door had been forced open.
His heart sank.
He pushed inside.
Sarah's hospital bed was empty.
The IV still hung from its stand.
The blankets had been thrown aside.
Connor's pulse thundered.
"Search every room!"
Vincent's team spread through the wing.
Seconds later a frightened nurse emerged from a storage closet.
"They took them..."
Connor grabbed her shoulders.
"Who?"
"They wore your security uniforms."
Connor froze.
"The little girl fought them. She kept screaming for Mr. Connor."
The nurse pointed toward the service tunnel beneath the estate.
"They went that way."
Connor ran.
The underground tunnel led to an abandoned wine cellar beneath the mansion.
Connor burst through the steel door.
Too late.
The armored vehicles were already leaving through a hidden exit.
One black SUV remained.
Its rear door stood open.
Inside sat Daniel Webb.
Older.
Sharper.
His expensive suit contrasted with the cruelty in his eyes.
Sarah sat beside him, her wrists bound.
Gracie struggled in the arms of another gunman.
Daniel smiled.
"It's been a long time."
Connor raised his pistol.
"So has my patience."
Daniel laughed.
"You still think this ends with me."
"It ends tonight."
Daniel slowly shook his head.
"You never understood the game."
He gently touched Gracie's braid.
Sarah screamed.
"Don't touch her!"
Connor's finger tightened on the trigger.
Daniel looked directly at him.
"She's my daughter."
Connor answered without hesitation.
"No."
"She's her mother's daughter."
"And she'll never belong to you."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
He nodded toward one of his men.
The gunman pressed a pistol against Sarah's head.
"Choose."
Daniel's voice was calm.
"The woman..."
"...or the child."
The tunnel fell silent.
Connor lowered his weapon.
Daniel smiled again.
"I knew you couldn't."
But Connor hadn't surrendered.
He had been waiting.
A tiny red laser appeared on the gunman's forehead.
Then another.
Then six more.
Daniel looked around.
Too late.
Malone snipers had surrounded every exit.
Connor smiled for the first time.
"You forgot one thing."
Daniel frowned.
"I built this estate."
The ceiling exploded.
Special forces hired by Connor rappelled through the opening.
Flash grenades filled the tunnel with blinding light.
Within seconds the gunmen were disarmed.
Connor charged forward.
Daniel fired once.
The bullet grazed Connor's shoulder.
Connor never slowed.
He tackled Daniel through the SUV door.
The two men crashed onto the concrete floor.
Years of regret.
Years of guilt.
Years of unfinished business.
Ended in a brutal fight with bare hands.
Daniel reached for a hidden knife.
Connor caught his wrist.
The blade clattered away.
One final punch sent Daniel unconscious.
The tunnel became silent.
Gracie ran straight into Connor's arms.
"You came back."
May you like
Connor hugged her tightly.
"I promised."
