Chapter 9 - The grandmother's trap
The bright morning peace of the sanctuary was instantly shattered. Sirens wailed in the distance, echoing off the mountain valley. Bright red and blue lights began flashing through the massive glass windows as armored federal vehicles poured into the estate's courtyard.
"She set us up," Vivienne realized in horror. "She knew she couldn't beat you with mercenaries, so she tipped off the FBI. She framed you for kidnapping my father and me!"
Sylvester didn't panic. The legendary boss remained frighteningly calm. He walked to his desk and pressed a hidden button beneath the wood. Heavy steel shutters immediately slammed down over all the windows, plunging the bright room into artificial light and locking the fortress down.
"Julian, order the men to stand down," Sylvester commanded. "Nobody fires a single shot at the feds. If we kill federal agents, we never walk away from this."
"Boss, they are breaching the front door in sixty seconds!" Julian warned.
Sylvester looked at Vivienne’s father. "You wanted to legitimize your family name. You wanted to blow the whistle on Eleanor. This is your chance. When they come through that door, you tell them exactly who locked you in a vault for twenty years."
Her father nodded, standing up, a new fire burning in his eyes. "I will tell them everything. I'll give them the accounts, the names, everything she built. She is going down today."
A massive explosion shook the building. The front doors had been breached. The sound of heavy combat boots echoed down the hallway.
Vivienne grabbed Sylvester’s arm, her fair skin pale with fear. "Sylvester, what about you? You're a wanted man. If they take you into custody, Eleanor will have you assassinated in prison before trial."
"I've spent my whole life preparing for this day, Vivienne," Sylvester said, looking down at her. "I don't plan on seeing the inside of a cell."
The heavy wooden doors of the study were kicked open. A dozen heavily armed FBI SWAT agents poured into the room, aiming bright laser sights directly at Sylvester's chest.
"FBI! Put your hands in the air!" the lead agent screamed, his American accent sharp and aggressive.
Sylvester calmly raised his hands. Julian dropped his weapon and did the same.
"Wait!" Vivienne’s father shouted, stepping in front of Sylvester. "I am Arthur Cross Senior! I am the man you think is dead! This man did not kidnap me; he rescued me! My mother, Eleanor Cross, is the one who imprisoned me! I have evidence of thirty years of racketeering, extortion, and murder!"
The lead agent hesitated, looking at the older man in confusion. He lowered his weapon slightly and tapped his earpiece. "Command, I have a positive ID on Arthur Cross. He is alive."
Vivienne let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. It was working. Her father was going to clear Sylvester's name.
But then, the lead agent reached into his tactical vest and pulled out a small, red burner phone. He looked at the screen, then looked directly at Sylvester.
"Change of plans," the lead agent said, his voice dropping an octave. "The grandmother sends her regards."
Vivienne screamed as the agent raised his weapon, aiming directly at her father’s head. Eleanor hadn't just tipped off the FBI. She had bought the tactical team.
In a blur of motion, Sylvester launched himself forward. He tackled Vivienne’s father to the ground just as the agent fired. The suppressed bullet shattered the heavy wooden desk instead of hitting its target.
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"Julian, now!" Sylvester roared.
Julian kicked a heavy iron coffee table directly into the legs of the agents, knocking three of them down. The study erupted into absolute chaos as a brutal, close-quarters brawl broke out between Sylvester, Julian, and the corrupt federal agents.
