Chapter 3 - The Siege of Vance Estate
BANG!
The gunshot shattered the quiet basement, but at that exact millisecond, a massive explosion rocked the outer security gates of the estate, shaking the entire foundation of the mansion!
The bullet grazed Julian’s shoulder, knocking him backward into the server rack.
"What the hell was that?!" Victor yelled, his head snapping toward the ceiling as warning sirens began blaring throughout the mansion.
"Sir! Federal agents are breaching the perimeter!" a security guard panicked through the radio intercom. "They have a warrant and heavy artillery!"
"Impossible!" Chloe shrieked, dropping her wine glass, which shattered on the tile floor. "How did the FBI find out about this facility?!"
"The mother..." Victor gritted his teeth, his face twisting in pure rage as he looked at Julian, who was slumping against the server rack, bleeding from his shoulder but laughing softly. "The old woman did this!"
"She's stronger than you'll ever be, Vance," Julian coughed out, blood leaking from the corner of his lips.
"Kill him now!" Victor screamed at his guards.
Before the guards could raise their weapons, the heavy steel doors of the basement were blown off their hinges by a flashbang grenade! A blinding light and deafening boom filled the room.
"FBI! ON THE GROUND! DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW!"
Swat officers streamed into the room, laser sights pinning Victor and his guards to the walls.
Panic took over. Victor’s guards dropped their guns and raised their hands. Victor grabbed Chloe, trying to use his own daughter as a human shield as he backed toward a secret escape hatch behind the server racks.
"Shoot them! Shoot the agents!" Chloe screamed, hyperventilating in terror.
Agent Marcus stepped through the smoke, his rifle trained squarely on Victor's forehead. "Victor Vance, it's over. Drop the weapon!"
"Never!" Victor yelled, aiming his pistol at Marcus.
THWACK!
A heavy iron fire extinguisher swung through the air, striking Victor hard in the side of his knee! Victor screamed in pain, dropping his gun as he fell to the floor.
Behind him stood Julian, holding the fire extinguisher with the last bit of physical strength left in his body, before collapsing to his knees, coughing violently.
"Julian!"
A frantic, loving voice cut through the chaos. Ellen burst past the line of SWAT officers, ignoring the smoke, the guns, and the noise. She threw herself onto the floor beside her son, gathering his bruised, trembling body into her arms.
"Julian! Oh my God, my baby!" Ellen cried, tears streaming down her face as she pressed her apron against his bleeding shoulder.
Julian opened his heavy eyelids, looking up at his mother in utter disbelief. "Mom...? No... why are you here? I told you... to run..."
"You foolish boy!" Ellen wept, kissing his bloody forehead again and again. "Did you really think I would leave you? Did you really think money means anything to me without my son?!"
"I... I wanted to save you..." Julian whispered, his vision fading to black. "I'm sorry I yelled at you in the rain..."
"I know, baby. I know everything," Ellen sobbed. "You saved me. Now let us save you!"
"Medic! We need a medic in here now!" Agent Marcus yelled over the radio.
As paramedics rushed in with a stretcher, two officers slammed Victor Vance and Chloe onto the cold floor, clicking steel handcuffs around their wrists.
Chloe looked at Ellen with pure venom. "You ruined my life, you filthy old beggar!"
Ellen stood up, walking directly over to Chloe. Without hesitation, Ellen delivered a sharp, echoing slap across Chloe's face.
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"That is for my husband," Ellen said, her voice shaking with righteous fury. She turned to Victor Vance, who was groaning in pain. "And you... you will rot in prison for what you did to my family."
As Victor and Chloe were dragged away in chains, Ellen held Julian’s cold hand tight as the paramedics loaded him onto the gurney, rushing him toward the waiting ambulance.
