Chapter 19
As twilight descended across the lonely American highway, the neon diner sign buzzed softly in the cooling night air.
Vincent sat alone at the counter, finishing his coffee while staring out the large front window at the empty interstate.
Suddenly, the diner's overhead lights flickered once and died, plunging the room into absolute darkness except for the green neon glow outside.
A single black limousine pulled off the highway, parking silently near the pump islands without turning on its headlights.
The rear door opened slowly, but no one stepped out onto the asphalt.
Instead, a sleek silver drone flew smoothly from the limousine window, hovering outside the diner's glass door.
Attached to the bottom of the drone was a small, sealed envelope bearing a familiar red wax seal.
Vincent stood up slowly from his stool, his hand sliding deep into his jacket pocket to touch the cold brass key one last time.
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He walked toward the front door, knowing the battle for his family's survival was about to enter its final, terrifying phase.
And as the drone tapped lightly against the glass, the true game of shadow and blood officially began.
