Chapter 8 - Siege on the Forty-Second Floor
The reinforced elevator doors at the end of the executive hallway blew inward with a deafening blast of thermite and shaped charges. Smoke poured into the corridor as six heavily armed mercenaries, wearing night-vision goggles and tactical body armor, advanced in a tight formation toward the double doors of Daniel’s private suite.
They expected an easy sweep of a trapped executive and a helpless woman.
Instead, the office doors swung open, and Daniel Seo met them with relentless, pinpoint fire.
Daniel moved with lethal efficiency, using the heavy marble pillars of his outer foyer for cover. Each round from his custom sidearm found its mark in the weak points of their armor. Beside him, Rachel fired with cool, calculated rhythm, forcing two flanking gunners to retreat behind the elevator lobby’s decorative stone fountain.
“Flank left!” the lead mercenary barked.
Mason Park and four Westbridge security operatives suddenly burst out from the emergency stairwell behind the attackers, cutting off their retreat. Gunfire echoed through the marble corridors like rolling thunder. In less than two minutes, the entire mercenary squad was neutralized, disarmed, and pinned to the shattered floor.
Daniel walked up to the squad commander, pressing his boot against the man’s chest. “Where is Victor?”
The man coughed blood, his voice trembling under Daniel’s murderous gaze. “He... he didn't come up. He went to the rooftop helipad! He has a private chopper landing in three minutes to extract him if we failed!”
Daniel turned to Rachel. “Stay with the children.”
Rachel shook her head, reloading her magazine. “No. Silas and Mason can lock the panic room doors from the inside. We finish this together, Daniel. Five years ago, we let secrets tear us apart. We don't leave each other's side ever again.”
Daniel looked at her, seeing the fiery, unbreakable partner he had fallen in love with a decade ago. He nodded firmly. “Mason! Get Silas and Hazel into the safe room. Seal the blast doors.”
Silas popped his head out from under the desk as Mason approached. “Dad!”
Daniel paused at the doorway, looking back at his son.
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“Don't let the bad man get away,” Silas said firmly.
Daniel felt a surge of raw, unadulterated strength course through his veins. “Not a chance, kiddo.”
