Chapter 23 - The Lake Tahoe Rescue
Upon returning to the West Coast, terrible news arrived: Marcus's younger sister had been taken hostage by Apex survivors near Lake Tahoe.
The syndicate demanded the immediate return of the blackmail ledgers in exchange for her safe, unharmed release within six hours.
"I'm going with you, Marcus," Victoria declared instantly, refusing to let her chief bodyguard face the danger alone.
They drove up into the Sierra Nevada mountains, arriving at an abandoned timber mill on the snow-covered edge of Lake Tahoe.
Using night-vision equipment, Marcus and Victoria breached the perimeter, moving silently past two guards stationed near the entrance.
Inside, Marcus's sister was tied to a chair in the center room, guarded by two heavy mercenaries holding automatic rifles.
Marcus created a distraction by throwing a smoke grenade into the opposite corner, blinding the guards in dense white haze.
He neutralized both mercenaries in swift, hand-to-hand tactical combat while Victoria rushed forward to cut the hostage's ropes.
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They escorted her safely out to the waiting SUV, reuniting the family and completely neutralizing Apex's last tactical leverage point.
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