Chapter 14
Maya paused in the doorway, her dark eyes locking onto her father's face without a single flicker of fear.
Behind the desk, Marcus struggled against his zip-ties, shouting through his gag.
"Don't do it, Maya! Don't give him anything!" Marcus muffled desperately.
Victor took a step around the mahogany desk, keeping his weapon trained on his daughter's heart.
"You always had your mother's foolish idealism, Maya," Victor sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger.
"You thought showing a security video to a few friends in a living room made you strong."
"You have no idea how the real world works."
Maya slowly raised her hands, her face set in an icy, terrifying expression of absolute calm.
"I know exactly how the world works, Father," Maya replied, her voice steady as a mountain.
"You think power comes from money and guns."
"I know power comes from truth."
She unzipped the pocket of her tactical vest, pulling out a small black remote control with a single red button.
"Do you know what this is, Victor?" Maya asked gently.
Victor's eyes narrowed as he looked at the device in her hand.
"A detonator?" Victor scoffed, laughing arrogantly. "You wouldn't blow up this house with your friend inside."
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"It's not a detonator," Maya corrected him with a lethal, icy smile.
"It's a live satellite broadcast switch."
