Chapter 12 - DANCE OF THE VULTURES
Panicked shouts erupted around the mahogany table.
Two security guards in the back corners of the room reached for their holstered weapons.
THWIP! THWIP!
Elena fired twice with terrifying precision.
Both guards collapsed before their guns could clear their leather holsters.
"Sit down!" Sofia roared, pointing her submachine gun at the twelve billionaires.
The board members instantly slammed back into their leather chairs, raising their hands in sheer panic.
These were men who ordered assassinations from comfortable offices.
They had never been on the receiving end of a loaded barrel.
Marcus didn't run.
He didn't panic.
He slowly began to clap his hands, his dry palm strikes echoing in the silent room.
"Bravo, Elena," Marcus chuckled, stepping away from the long table.
"You always did know how to make an entrance."
"And you bring my little biological mistake with you... how poetic."
Sofia’s hand tightened on the trigger, her knuckles turning white.
"Don't let him talk, Elena," Sofia hissed through her teeth. "Let me shoot him."
"Lower the gun for a moment, Sofia," Elena said calmly, never taking her eyes off her brother.
"Marcus has something he needs to explain to the board before he dies."
Marcus smiled, leaning against the marble fireplace mantle.
"Explain what? That I arranged for our father’s death?"
"That I had Viktor substitute your ring three months ago?"
"Or that I promised Arthur half of the European shipping lines if he helped me erase you?"
"It doesn't matter what I explain, sister."
"Look around this room."
"The board voted."
"Eleven to zero."
"You are no longer the head of this Syndicate."
"By our laws, you are an intruder."
"And intruders are executed on sight."
Marcus reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black detonator.
"Do you really think I didn't prepare for you coming here?" Marcus laughed darkly.
"This entire hotel room is rigged with micro-explosives."
"You shoot me, my thumb releases this button, and all twenty floors drop into the street."
The board members gasped in terror.
"Marcus! Are you insane?!" one old director screamed. "We are in here with you!"
"Silence, old man!" Marcus barked without looking at him.
"Elena won't shoot."
"She's too righteous."
"She thinks she's protecting Father's legacy."
Elena stepped forward, her tactical boots leaving dark wet prints on the expensive carpet.
She raised her hand, allowing the brilliant pink diamond to shine directly into Marcus’s eyes.
"You're right about one thing, Marcus," Elena said softly.
"I am protecting Father's legacy."
"But you forgot the most important rule Father taught us."
Elena suddenly turned her pistol to the right and fired three shots into the main electrical junction box on the wall.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
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Sparks erupted instantly.
The entire penthouse suite dropped into pitch-black darkness.
