Chapter 60

Chapter Sixty

Up ahead, the estate itself seemed to loom like some dark fortress, the high walls casting deep shadows under the moonlight. In the lurking quiet of the SUV, the tension was so thick you could have bottled it as Victor and Kian readied themselves to tag-team whatever was coming into their sights. No doubt that with the stakes so high in the game of life and death, the air was heavy with the unspoken understanding that all of them just might not be alive again when they got out.

Hundreds of yards down the drive, Fiona pulled the SUV to a stop outside the ring of security lighting thrown out by the remote estate. Her team piled out, sleekly professional, as Julian took the perimeter with his special pair of night-vision binoculars.

"Two guards on the main gate," he whispered, "and two more patrolling the east side. There's a blind spot here," he pointed to a section of wall covered in thick foliage. "We move fast, we can scale it without being noticed."

Fiona nodded, her expression resolute. "We go in quiet, take out the guards, and secure the area. Once we're inside, we split up—Victor and I will head for the control room to disable the security system. Kian, you and Julian head for Cross's office. He'll likely be holed up there.

Victor's face was hard, determined. "If he's off-balance, we might be able to end this without a full-scale battle."

Kian settled his earpiece and then himself. "And if he's not?"

"Then we fight our way out," Fiona answered, her voice sure. "Whatever it takes, Cross doesn't leave this estate tonight."

With their plan in thought out, the team snaked its way to the area that was the blind spot of the wall. The foliage just grew dense enough to mask an approach. One by one, they clambered up the wall and down the other side. The grounds of the estate were so deathly quiet. Only a distance humming of electricity that powered the security system could be heard, along with the slight rustling of the leaves due to the breeze.

To the east, patrolling the guards, Fiona and Victor took the lead. They let them down with professional proficiency, drawing the dead weight further into the dark crannies of the grounds. Meantime, Kian and Julian slipped through the main gate, heading for the main house.

The atmosphere within the building was tense. The corridors were dark, and the shadows cast across them appeared to go on for miles. The team moved cautiously, with each step pre-determined and as silent as the last. As they reached the control room, Fiona tapped Victor and motioned for him to lead.

Victor crept to the door, listening for any movement inside. Not hearing anything, he nodded to Fiona to provide cover. He quickly shoved the door open, weapon ready. The room was empty aside from multiple rows of monitors portraying different angles of the estate.

"Clear," Victor whispered, moving to the control panel.

Fiona entered the room and quickly swept it with her eyes. "We have to take down these security cameras and disarm their alarms. We can't run the risk of Cross being able to get a heads-up that we are here."

Victor quickly nodded, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he began to disarm the security systems. One by one, the monitors went dark and the red lights on the control panel blinked off.

"Done," Victor said, stepping back. They had ten minutes before the system reset. "We've got about ten minutes before the system resets. We need to move."

Fiona nodded, her mind already on the next task. "Let's regroup with Kian and Julian. Cross's office is on the second floor. If he's there, that's where we'll find him."

Meanwhile, Kian and Julian had found their way through the twisted corridors of the mansion easily. They made the shift to the office, Julian holding up his hand to stop Kian.

"There," Julian hissed, pointing at the faint light seeping out from under the door. "He's in there."

Kian only nodded, tightening his grip on his weapon. "Let's do this.

Julian took one side of a door, Kian took the other. They met eyes, the way neither of them flinched, knowing what the other intended to do, counted to three in their shared silence, before Julian gave the door a good, solid kick and cleared the room with his weapon.

The office was richly decorated, but nothing in its splendor served to diffuse the tension in the room. Cross sat behind an oversized mahogany desk, his face a mask of stone. He barely steepled his fingers, observing those in front of him with cold, unabashed eyes, making no reaction as the door was thrown open with all the force its hinges could allow.

"You have a penchant for being annoying," remarked Cross, his voice devoid of all emotion.

Kian narrowed his eyes and kept his weapon trained on Cross. "It's over, Cross. There's nowhere left to run."

Cross's lips slightly curled in a smile, sardonic, almost as if he found the situation amusing. "Run? You underestimate me, Kian. I'm always three steps ahead."

Right before Kian could say a word, there was an audible click within the room. Kian's eyes shot towards the source—a small object on Cross's desk, with one blinking red light.

"A "dead man switch"., Julian groaned inwardly.

"Quite right," Cross answered, now with an even more wicked smile. "Kill me and this entire estate is toast. And you won't even get out.

"You're bluffing."

Cross's eyes gleamed with something more sinister. "Try me."

And it was at that moment Fiona entered with Victor, both of them holding guns. They rapidly scanned the room, grasped the situation, and shared a look that acknowledged the level of danger they were in.

"Cross," Fiona said in a much more level voice, even though the fear never stopped eating at her. "You don't need to do this. We can sort something out."

Cross shook his head, pity reflecting in his face. "It's too late for that, Fiona. You've forced my hand."

Tension hung heavy over the room, with only the ticking of that device preset on Cross's desk breaking the silence. The seconds it counted felt as though they were each eternal.

Kian's mind raced to find a solution. He couldn't back away, but the charge well could seal their fate. Just as he was deciding, Julian strode forward, weapon lowered.

"Cross," Julian murmured in a low, firm voice, "you and I both know that you can't get out of this. Even if you blow this place, that doesn't mean you'll be out any more than I. Is that the way you want?"

Cross's eyes flicked to Julian, a flicker of something—doubt?—crossing his features. "You think I fear death?"

"I think you're afraid to lose," Julian said with steady eye contact. "And that's what's going on, Cross. You're, by the way, still having a chance. You can finish this your way."

For a moment, no one moved. The tension in the room was palpable as Cross considered Julian's words. Finally, he let out a slow breath, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"You're right," Cross said quietly. "I do hate losing."

He reached for the device; his movements were slow and deliberate. Kian tensed, ready to react, but Cross simply turned the device off, the red light fading to black.

"It's over," Cross said, his voice tinged with resignation. "I surrender."

Fiona and Victor exchanged a glance; both of them could hardly believe what had just transpired. Kian moved cautiously forward, securing Cross's hands with zip ties.

As the team was leading Cross out of the estate, a wave of relief washed over Fiona. They had done it. After all the battles, all the losses, they finally brought Cross down.

Fiona could not shake the feeling that this was just the beginning as they stepped out into the cool night air: Cross had been the mastermind, but his network was vast. There would be others who would rise to take his place.

For now, though, they had won, and that was enough.

The SUV headlights cut away miles of dark country as they reeled away from that estate and all the memories from the nightmare that stayed with them too long. In the passenger seat of the SUV, Fiona's mind finally allowed itself some rest.

And, firing off into the night for the first time in a long time, Fiona let herself hope.