Chapter 5 - The Glass Tower
The rain hammered against the glass facade of Sterling Dynamics as David’s three SUVs pulled up to the main entrance.
The fifty-story skyscraper was the center of a multi-billion-dollar medical technology empire. Inside its vault lay the source code for neural-regeneration technology that Elena and David had co-invented—a breakthrough worth tens of billions on the global defense market.
David walked through the grand lobby, flanked by four security guards. Sarah walked beside him, wrapped in a trench coat, her head down in shame.
The night-shift security guards at the front desk stood up immediately, bowing their heads in respect. "Mr. Sterling! We weren't expecting you tonight—"
"Where is my brother?" David asked coldly.
"Dr. Julian is up on Floor 14, sir," the guard replied nervously. "He brought a specialized medical transport team in about twenty minutes ago."
David’s heart hammered against his ribs. A medical transport team. Julian knew the anniversary party had gone wrong. He was moving Elena.
"Lock down the building elevators," David instructed Evelyn over his earpiece. "Override the service lifts. Force everything to Floor 14."
David took the private executive express elevator straight up. The digital floor indicator ticked upward rapidly: 10... 11... 12... 13... 14.
DING.
The heavy steel doors slid open, revealing the pristine, white clinical hallway of Julian's private bio-research facility.
Standing at the end of the glass-walled corridor was Julian Sterling. He wore a sharp black suit, his dark hair slicked back, holding a metallic briefcase containing hard drives. Behind him, two armed mercenaries stood guard beside a heavy steel vault door.
When Julian saw David step out of the elevator holding Sarah by the arm, a cold, arrogant smile spread across his face.
"Well, well," Julian said smoothly, stepping forward. "I must admit, brother, I didn't expect my brilliant plan to be undone by an eight-year-old child with a handful of bakery frosting."
May you like
David stepped into the hallway, his dark eyes burning with pure hatred. "Where is she, Julian?"
Julian shrugged nonchalantly. "She's right where she's been for four years, David. Resting comfortably. Although... her time here has just expired."
