Chapter 13
"Stop right there!" Jaxson bellowed, leveling his weapon directly at the intruder's chest with lethal precision.
The masked mercenary froze, slowly raising his hands into the air while dropping a burning handful of confidential contracts onto the carpet.
Marcus rushed forward, kicking the remaining papers away from the fire and slapping heavy steel zip-ties around the operative's wrists.
"You're a little too late, enforcer," the mercenary laughed darkly through his black ski mask.
"The master server in Zurich just uploaded a secondary contingent virus into the federal grid... everything you're fighting for is already burning."
Jaxson didn't blink; he grabbed the mercenary by his tactical vest and slammed him against the mahogany bookshelf with controlled fury.
"Where is the physical backup drive?" Jaxson demanded, his voice echoing with terrifying, unyielding authority.
The mercenary spat blood onto the floor, smiling mockingly as he nodded toward the antique grandfather clock in the corner.
May you like
Elizabeth didn't wait for Jaxson to check; she walked straight toward the grandfather clock, remembering a childhood hiding spot behind the pendulum.
She swung the heavy glass door open, reaching deep behind the brass weights until her fingers brushed against a cold metal thumb-drive.
