Chapter 13 - The Birdcage Siege
"The St. Charles estate!"
Sterling shrieked,
her tears smearing her expensive makeup,
her body trembling violently.
"She's in the subterranean holding cell beneath the guest house!
Code to the vault is 4-8-1-9!"
I looked at Dominic.
"Keep her bound to her chair.
Stream the SD card data directly from her private terminal to the press."
"Understood,
Boss,"
Dominic replied,
forcing Sterling into her leather executive chair and pulling out zip-ties.
"I'll make sure the entire world sees her confession."
I left the courthouse,
taking four operatives with me,
and raced west toward the heavy forests of St. Charles.
The storm had worsened,
winds howling through the dense pine trees lining the private mountain road.
Nested deep inside a sixty-acre secluded property stood 'The Birdcage,'
a massive stone estate surrounded by twelve-foot electrical fencing and thermal security cameras.
This was Vance's ultimate insurance policy—a secret black-site used to hold political enemies,
whistleblowers,
and hostages.
We pulled up to the outer gate,
not slowing down for a second.
Our heavy SUV smashed through the iron gates,
plunging straight into the private driveway.
Mercenaries stationed around the grounds immediately opened fire,
their muzzle flashes lighting up the dark forest like fireflies.
"Take the high ground!"
I barked into my comms,
vaulting out of the moving vehicle as it drew the heavy crossfire.
I dropped to one knee in the wet mud,
returning fire,
dropping two guards near the outer garage.
My men moved in a tight tactical diamond,
laying down suppressive fire while advancing toward the guest house.
Explosions echoed through the estate as my team cleared the perimeter with flashbangs and tactical grenades.
The guard force was panicked,
leaderless,
unaware that Marcus Vance had fallen and Sterling had been captured.
Within five brutal minutes,
the outer guards were silenced.
I kicked open the heavy oak doors of the guest house,
charging through the smoke-filled hallway.
Behind a hidden bookshelf in the study,
I found the reinforced steel vault door.
I punched in the code Sterling had given me:
4-8-1-9.
The heavy hydraulic locks hissed,
the thick steel door swung slowly outward,
revealing a dimly lit concrete staircase descending into the earth.
My heart pounded with terrifying speed.
"Sarah!"
May you like
I called out into the dark.
"Sarah!"
