The air grew colder and sharper the deeper they went, the lavish corridors of the mansion giving way to sterile, metallic hallways. The walls were thick, reinforced steel coated with a dull gray sheen that swallowed light and sound alike. Whatever warmth the mansion above held was absent down here. It was as if they had stepped into a hollow, mechanical heart.
Jared wiped sweat from his brow, his gaze constantly darting around. "This place feels wrong, man. Like we're walking straight into the devil's mouth."
"We are," Zale replied, his voice low and unwavering. "And we're about to rip his teeth out."
Despite his bravado, something gnawed at Zale's insides. It wasn't the cold or the unnatural quiet. It was something more primal, a sensation like claws scraping against his ribs. But the hunger for revenge burned hotter, eclipsing the warning signals rattling through his mind.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the metal floor, both men moving like shadows. They clung to the dimly lit corridors, slipping past cameras Jared had previously disabled. Occasionally, they'd pause, press their backs against the walls, and wait for guards to pass. Zale's senses sharpened, his focus honed to a razor's edge.
He was alive for one reason only—to make the man hiding within this fortress pay.
"Okay, I've got a bad feeling about this," Jared whispered after ducking behind another set of crates. His voice trembled slightly, the constant pressure finally starting to break through his adrenaline-fueled resolve. "These guards aren't like the others. They're not just some hired muscle."
"They're professionals," Zale agreed, his eyes narrowed. "And the deeper we go, the thicker they get."
"Which means we're on the right track."
Zale nodded, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. The deeper they went, the more paranoid the CEO had become. This place was designed to keep people out, to keep him out. And yet, here he was.
They continued forward, slipping through darkened halls where the hum of machinery seemed to grow louder, a steady, mechanical pulse echoing through the compound.
"You really think he's got a whole damn army down here?" Jared asked, his voice strained.
"Wouldn't put it past him. When you screw over enough people, you end up needing one."
"Yeah, but… I mean, look at this place. How much money does this asshole have?"
"Enough to think he's untouchable."
"Well, we're about to prove him wrong."
They reached a narrow passageway where the air felt colder, more oppressive. The walls were thicker, the lighting dimmer. It was as if the entire corridor had been designed to suck the life out of anyone who dared tread its length.
It was also where the guards' presence was strongest.
"Shit," Jared hissed, peeking around a corner. "Looks like we found the last line of defense."
Zale leaned over and saw them—six heavily armed guards standing in front of a thick metal door. Their faces were stone-cold, their posture rigid. No casual conversation. No wandering eyes. Just a brutal, unyielding wall of violence waiting to be unleashed.
"Definitely not the kind of guys you send to guard the wine cellar," Jared muttered.
"That's where he is," Zale said, his voice raw with certainty. "Hiding behind his last layer of protection."
"And we're supposed to get through that how, exactly? These guys look like they'd tear us apart just by looking at us funny."
"We wait."
"For what? A miracle?"
"For the right moment."
Jared let out a bitter laugh. "And here I thought I was the crazy one."
Zale ignored the comment. His eyes remained locked on the guards, studying their every movement, every shift in posture. Their fingers hovered near the triggers of their rifles, their muscles coiled and ready.
But the longer he watched, the more that nagging feeling returned. Something was wrong.
"What is it?" Jared asked, his gaze darting between Zale's hardened expression and the guards ahead.
"I'm not sure. Just… something feels off."
Jared rolled his eyes. "Great. Real helpful."
"No, I mean it. It's like…" Zale's words trailed off, his fists clenching at his sides. His senses were tingling, but not from fear. Something else was crawling through his nerves, like an itch just beneath the skin.
"Like what?" Jared snapped. "Come on, man, I need more than vague ominous vibes right now."
Zale shook his head. "Forget it. I'm probably just being paranoid."
"If you say so."
They stayed hidden, both men watching the guards with tense, twitching muscles. Zale's eyes narrowed. The guards were too focused, too alert. It was almost like they were expecting something.
But before he could dwell on the thought any longer, a low, rumbling noise reached his ears. It started as a distant thrum, like the beat of a giant's heart, but quickly grew louder.
Jared's eyes went wide. "Is that…?"
"A helicopter," Zale snarled, his fists tightening with fury. "He's trying to run."
The realization slammed into him like a punch to the gut. The CEO was making his escape. After everything they'd gone through to reach him, he was about to slip away like a coward.
"No way. Not a chance." Jared's voice was strained, but there was fire in his eyes. "We're not letting that bastard get away."
Zale's gaze locked onto the guards, then shifted toward the stairway leading upward. The helicopter's thundering blades grew louder, echoing through the underground corridors.
"He's heading for the rooftop," Zale said, the words ripped from his throat. "And these guys are probably about to follow him up there."
"Which means…"
"Which means we wait. As soon as they move, we go in."
"And if they don't leave?" Jared's voice trembled, his anger threaded with desperation.
"Then we make them."
Jared looked at him, eyes burning with a mix of madness and determination. "I really hope you have a plan."
"I have rage," Zale replied, his voice frigid and sharp. "That's more than enough."
The helicopter's presence loomed above, the sound of its engines a constant reminder that their target was about to slip away. But Zale wasn't about to let that happen. Not after everything.
He would tear the entire place apart before he allowed that man to escape.
"Get ready," Zale said, his voice a low growl. "Because once this starts, there's no turning back."