Chapter 16 - The Standoff Beneath The Mountain
The tension inside the crystalline cavern was so thick it seemed to freeze the surrounding subterranean air.
The two private security guards trained their laser sights directly onto John’s chest and Chloe’s forehead.
"Put the briefcase down, Richard," Martha commanded her attorney without breaking her gaze from her son.
"Let’s finalize the transfer papers before the federal authorities locate the tunnel entrance above."
Vance set the heavy briefcase on a flat rock, popping the locks to reveal an encrypted satellite uplink terminal.
"Once you place your thumbprint on this biometric scanner, Martha, the land rights transfer to the Cayman trust," Vance said.
"And what happens to John and Chloe?" Martha asked, her voice chillingly casual as she looked at her only child.
"They will be listed as casualties of the federal tactical raid above," Vance answered without a shred of emotion.
"A tragic accident involving an armed fugitive resisting arrest," Vance added with a cold, professional smile.
Chloe stepped forward beside John, her face setting into a mask of pure defiance despite the red laser dot on her forehead.
"You're a sick woman, Martha," Chloe spat out, her voice echoing clearly off the cavern's mineral walls.
"You destroyed your husband, you tried to destroy your son, and all for money you can't take to your grave!"
Martha let out a sharp, bitter laugh that sounded like dry leaves scraping across a concrete sidewalk.
"Money? You think this is about money, you simple little girl?" Martha sneered, taking a step toward them.
"This is about legacy!" Martha shouted, her eyes blazing with an unhinged, aristocratic fanatical pride.
"The Miller family built this county! We owned the mills, the banks, and the land for four generations!"
"My husband was weak... he wanted to give it all away to charity and veterans!" Martha yelled madly.
"And John is just like him! Soft, romantic, and easily blinded by a pretty face from the gutter!"
"I am the only one worthy of holding this family's power!" Martha proclaimed, reaching out toward the biometric pad.
John watched her finger hover over the glowing glass scanner, knowing he had only seconds to act.
He reached into his leather jacket pocket, his fingers wrapping around the metal pin of a flashbang grenade he had taken from Sam.
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"Hey, Martha!" John roared at the top of his lungs, pulling the pin with a sharp metallic flick.
"Welcome to the family business!" John screamed, hurling the tactical device directly into the center of the cavern floor.
