Chapter 6 - The Web Tightens
"Don't make a single move," a heavy voice rasped from the shadows.
Mark turned around slowly, shielding Lily with his entire body.
Two men in dark suits stepped out of the mist.
One of them held a high-caliber handgun equipped with a suppressor.
The other man held a heavy metal crowbar.
Mark recognized the armed man immediately.
It was Victor, Grandfather Arthur’s personal security chief.
Victor smiled, a cold, empty expression that didn't reach his eyes.
"You really are a foolish man, Mark," Victor said smoothly.
"Did you honestly think you could run from Arthur?"
"In this city, Arthur owns the air you breathe."
Sarah stepped forward, her hands raised slightly, her body tense.
"Victor, step away," Sarah warned sharply.
"If you shoot us here, the police will find the bodies."
Victor let out a dry, mocking laugh.
"The police?"
"Who do you think gave us your location, Vance?"
"The local precinct captain called Arthur thirty minutes ago."
"He told us you bought two coffee cups at the diner down the road."
"They don't want Mark arrested."
"They want this whole little family scandal buried once and for all."
Mark felt a wave of icy horror wash over him.
The corruption wasn't just at the top.
It was everywhere.
The entire legal system was wrapped tightly around Arthur’s finger.
"Give us the girl, Mark," Victor ordered, raising the gun directly at Mark’s head.
"Arthur wants her back at the estate before dawn."
"He says she needs to be taught a lesson about family loyalty."
"And as for you..."
"You'll be taking a one-way trip to the bottom of the bay."
"They'll find your car tomorrow and call it an unfortunate suicide."
"You couldn't live with the guilt of what you did to poor Aunt Stephanie."
"It's a very clean story, don't you think?"
Lily began to cry hysterically, burying her head in Mark’s shoulder.
"Daddy! Don't let them take me!"
Mark’s heart hammered furiously against his ribs.
He looked at Sarah out of the corner of his eye.
She was slowly sliding her hand toward her right trench coat pocket.
Mark knew he only had one chance.
He didn't hesitate.
Instead of backing away, Mark charged forward, throwing his weight into the man with the crowbar.
"Run, Sarah!" Mark roared.
The heavy man slammed backward into the rusted cargo container with a loud metallic crash.
The crowbar clattered across the wet concrete floor.
Pfft! Pfft!
The suppressed handgun coughed twice into the foggy night air.
A bullet grazed Mark’s shoulder, tearing through his heavy jacket and leaving a burning trail of pain.
Mark ignored the stinging agony.
He swung his foot violently into Victor’s knee.
A sickening crack echoed through the warehouse.
Victor shrieked in pain, collapsing onto the slippery pavement and dropping his weapon.
Sarah pulled a small canister of pepper spray from her pocket and sprayed the second attacker directly in the eyes.
The man fell to his knees, screaming and clutching his face.
"Get in the truck! Now!" Sarah screamed, grabbing the dropped gun from the ground.
Mark snatched the weapon from her hand, grabbed Lily, and sprinted toward the Ford.
They threw themselves into the cab as Sarah leapt into the passenger seat.
Mark slammed the truck into reverse, tires screeching wildly against the asphalt.
He smashed through the rusted chain-link gate of the pier, bursting out onto the main road.
In the rearview mirror, he saw Victor staggering up, pulling a phone from his pocket.
"They know we're together now," Sarah panted, catching her breath.
"There is no turning back, Mark."
"They will hunt us down with everything they have."
Mark pressed his foot all the way to the floorboard, his face pale and blood-stained.
"Good," Mark said, his eyes burning with a dangerous, dark resolve.
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"Because I'm done running."
"We're going to take Arthur’s empire down piece by piece."
