Chapter 6
The long, luxurious hallway of the residential wing was eerily quiet compared to the deafening warzone of the ballroom. Elegant oil paintings lined the walls, totally undisturbed. But Xavier Hayes did not slow down. His polished leather shoes pounded against the thick Persian runners as he sprinted after the two traitors.
"Marcus!" Xavier roared into his encrypted earpiece as he ran. "Status!"
Static crackled in his ear for a terrifying second before Marcus’s deep voice responded, punctuated by heavy breathing. "Boss. We are in the secure suite. Doors are locked down. But I have movement in the corridor outside. They're trying to breach."
"I am thirty seconds out," Xavier commanded. "Do not let them through that door."
Ahead of him, the hallway branched into a T-intersection. Xavier slowed his pace, pressing his back against the silk-lined wallpaper. He raised his weapon, his deep, rich ebony skin blending into the shadows cast by the wall sconces. He took a steadying breath, his heart rate completely controlled despite the adrenaline flooding his veins.
"He's coming down the hall!" one of the traitors hissed from around the corner.
"Just blast the lock on the kid's door!" the other replied frantically. "If we have the girl, Hayes will surrender!"
Xavier's jaw tightened. He didn't wait for them to act. He swung around the corner in a low crouch, instantly acquiring both targets in his sights.
The traitors had just raised their weapons toward the heavy, reinforced steel door of Zariah's secure suite.
Xavier fired three times in rapid succession. The first two rounds caught the man on the right cleanly in the chest, dropping him instantly. The second man spun around, firing wildly in panic. A bullet grazed Xavier’s tailored suit jacket, tearing through the expensive fabric, but Xavier didn't even flinch. He adjusted his aim slightly and fired once more, hitting the final traitor squarely in the shoulder, sending his weapon clattering to the floor.
The man collapsed, groaning in agony.
Xavier approached slowly, kicking the dropped gun far down the hallway. He stood over the bleeding traitor, his shadow completely enveloping the man.
"Who gave the order to target my daughter?" Xavier asked, his voice a lethal, vibrating whisper.
"It... it was Julian," the man choked out, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "He said if the hit went bad, we use the kid as leverage to get out."
Xavier’s eyes darkened to absolute pitch. "Thank you."
He struck the man on the temple with the heavy grip of his pistol, knocking him completely unconscious.
"Marcus," Xavier called out, knocking a specific rhythm on the reinforced steel door. "It's me. Open it."
The heavy deadbolts slammed back. The door swung open, revealing Marcus with a submachine gun leveled at the doorway. Behind him, sitting quietly on a plush velvet sofa eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream, was Zariah.
"Daddy!" she smiled, completely oblivious to the massacre outside.
Xavier exhaled a long, shaky breath, holstering his weapon. He walked over and kissed her forehead. "Hey, sweetie. Did Marcus take good care of you?"
May you like
"Yes," she nodded. "Can we go back to the party now?"
"Not just yet," Xavier said softly. He looked over at Marcus, his face hardening back into the ruthless Mafia boss. "The estate is compromised. We need to look at what is actually on this digital drive."
