Chapter 8 - THE FIRE IN THE TOWERThe sudden burst of flames roared toward the ceiling, sending thick black smoke billowing through the narrow stone vault.
Marcus shrieked, blinded by the sudden wall of fire, firing two wild shots into the smoke. The suppressed rounds slammed harmlessly into the stone wall behind us.
Arthur lunged through the flames, tackling Marcus through the open vault doorway into the circular tower room outside!
The two men crashed onto the cold stone floor, wrestling frantically for control of the weapon. The pistol skittered across the floor, sliding toward the edge of the winding staircase.
I scrambled out of the burning vault, grabbing a heavy brass telescope from its tripod stand, and rushed toward them.
Marcus managed to roll over, pinning Arthur to the floor, his heavy hands gripping Arthur's throat, choking the life out of him. "You're dying tonight, boy!" Marcus snarled, his face twisted in psychotic fury.
I didn't hesitate. I swung the solid brass telescope with all the strength in my body, striking Marcus violently across the side of his head!
CRACK!
Marcus let out a muffled groan, his grip loosening as he collapsed sideways onto the floor, unconscious.
Arthur gasped for air, clutching his neck, coughing heavily as he sat up. I dropped the heavy telescope and dropped to my knees beside him, wrapping my arms around him tightly.
"Are you okay?! Arthur, are you okay?!" I wept frantically.
"I'm... I'm fine," Arthur coughed out, taking my hand, pulling himself up. "We have to seal the vault!"
Together, we threw the heavy iron vault door shut, locking the roaring fire safely inside the reinforced stone walls. The heavy smoke began to clear through the high tower windows as the oxygen inside the sealed vault burned away, smothering the flames.
Arthur looked down at the unconscious security chief on the floor, then reached into Marcus's coat pocket, pulling out a small black USB drive and a encrypted satellite phone.
"This drive contains his communication logs with the banking cartel," Arthur said, his eyes narrowing. "This is the proof we need to clear our names."
Suddenly, the heavy oak door at the base of the tower staircase burst open.
A squad of armed estate guards—loyal to Arthur—rushed up the winding stairs, led by my mother-in-law Eleanor and my 'uncle' Sterling.
"Arthur! Sofía!" Eleanor gasped, taking in the scene of the unconscious security chief, the smoke-stained walls, and the sealed vault. "What happened here?!"
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Arthur stood tall, holding the encrypted USB drive high in the air, his voice echoing with absolute, unyielding authority.
"The lies end tonight, Mother," Arthur declared firmly. "All of them."
