Chapter 9 - The Trap Within
The heavy vault doors slowly swung open.
Inside were stacks of pristine gold bullion and bundles of cash.
Vanessa shoved Nathan forcefully onto the floor.
"Stay right there!" she warned, aiming the weapon at both of them.
She knelt down at the edge of the vault, reaching in with both hands.
"Finally... everything I deserve," she laughed hysterically.
Nathan looked at the vault control interface near his boot.
There was a manual override button meant for home invasions.
It was designed to trap thieves inside the vault structure.
Nathan took a deep breath and slid his foot sideways.
He slammed his heel down onto the hidden red button beneath the desk leg.
A piercing security alarm detonated throughout the room.
Heavy hydraulic steel walls descended from the ceiling instantly.
Vanessa shrieked as a steel cage slammed down over the vault opening.
She was trapped inside the narrow perimeter of the vault floor.
She fired three wildly aimed shots through the thick metal bars.
The bullets bounced harmlessly off the reinforced alloy.
Nathan leaped across the floor, tackling Leo to safety behind the heavy oak desk.
"You bastard!" Vanessa screamed, beating her hands against the steel cage.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
Nathan quickly peeled the tape off Leo's mouth and untied his ropes.
"Are you hurt, Leo?" Nathan asked urgently.
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"I'm okay, Dad!" Leo cried, hugging his father tightly.
Suddenly, the smell of heavy gasoline filled the air.
