Chapter 9 - The Fall of the Vanguard
Panicked screams and the sharp clatter of tactical gear echoed through the pitch-black terminal.
"Shooters! Light them up!" Cross screamed, dropping behind the table as he drew his sidearm.
Before the mercenaries could activate their night-vision goggles, Luca moved with blinding, lethal speed.
He didn't fire at the guards. He lunged through the darkness, his massive hand clamping around Olivia’s jacket collar, pulling her down to the concrete floor and wrapping his body completely over hers just as muzzle flashes erupted across the upper catwalks like angry lightning!
RAT-AT-TAT-TAT-TAT!
Heavy automatic fire chewed through the concrete floor inches from where they lay. Glass shattered from the overhead skylights, showering down like frozen rain.
"Marco! Alpha team, go!" Luca roared over the deafening noise, drawing his weapon and firing three rapid shots into the shadows toward the catwalks.
Instantly, red laser sights flickered to life from the darkness of the service entrances! Marco’s men stormed the floor, firing precise, suppressed bursts that dropped Cross’s mercenaries one by one before they could establish a defensive perimeter!
Above on the mezzanine, the heavy sound of breaching charges detonated—BANG! BANG!
Victoria Moretti had breached the VIP lounge!
"Clear!" Victoria’s sharp voice echoed down from the balcony above over the gunfire. "The hostages are secure! I repeat, the hostages are secure!"
Hearing her aunt’s voice, Olivia let out a gasp of air, but the danger was far from over.
Through the flickering muzzle flashes, a figure lunged out of the darkness—Viktor Cross!
Cross’s face was contorted in psychotic rage. He ignored the tactical war unfolding around him; his eyes were fixed entirely on Olivia. He reached down, grabbing her by the hair, dragging her violently out from beneath Luca’s body!
"If I don't get the four billion, nobody does!" Cross screamed, pressing the cold steel barrel of his revolver directly against Olivia’s temple!
"Luca!" Olivia shrieked!
Luca spun around on the floor. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Cross holding Olivia. His gun was empty, its slide locked back.
"Drop your weapon, Moretti!" Cross shrieked, his finger tightening on the trigger! "Drop it or I blow her brains across this floor!"
Luca slowly raised his empty hands, standing up from the concrete floor, his eyes fixed on Cross’s finger on the trigger.
"Cross," Luca said, his voice terrifyingly calm, stepping forward one inch at a time. "Look at me."
"Don't move!" Cross roared!
"Look at my watch, Cross," Luca commanded smoothly.
Cross’s eyes flicked down for a fraction of a second toward Luca’s left wrist.
That fraction of a second was all Luca needed.
Luca reached into his boot, pulled out a long, sleek titanium throw-knife, and hurled it with terrifying precision!
The blade whistled through the air, burying itself deep into Cross’s right shoulder!
Cross screamed in agony, dropping the revolver as he stumbled backward!
Olivia didn't hesitate. She threw her elbow back with all the strength she possessed, striking Cross directly in the throat!
Cross gagged, falling over the edge of the folding table, crashing heavily onto the concrete floor.
Before Cross could recover, Luca was over him.
Luca grabbed Cross by his trench coat lapels, lifting the heavy man off the floor with one hand, and slammed him face-first against the heavy steel support pillar!
CRACK!
Cross’s body went completely limp, dropping to the wet concrete like a sack of stones.
Silence descended upon Pier 88.
The gunfire had ceased. The remaining Vanguard mercenaries lay dead or disarmed along the catwalks. Marco’s men were sweeping the floor with tactical flashlights, securing the perimeter.
Luca stood over Cross’s unconscious body, his chest heaving, blood soaking through his black shirt from his reopened stitches.
He turned slowly around.
Olivia was standing ten feet away, panting, her hair wild, her clothes torn and dirty, but her eyes bright and alive.
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Luca walked over to her. He didn't say a word. He reached out, gathered her into his powerful arms, and pulled her flush against his chest, burying his face into the curve of her neck.
Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing him back with everything she had, burying her face into his blood-stained shirt, weeping softly as the nightmare finally came to an end.
