Everyone watched Victoria raise her hand against a helpless elderly woman, but only one waitress dared to stop her—and seconds later, Chicago’s most powerful billionaire walked straight toward them.

Vincent shoved Emma into the open bay of the helicopter, followed immediately by Marcus, who tossed the half-conscious, bleeding Julian Ward onto the metal deck like a sack of refuse. Vincent climbed in last, his boots barely clearing the skid as the gunship pulled up violently, pitching sideways into the howling crosswinds.

*THWACK-THWACK-THWACK!*

The twin turbines screamed at maximum torque as the pilot dove toward the skyline, weaving between the dark silhouettes of Chicago’s skyscrapers to break radar lock.

Below them, the city was plunging into chaos. Emergency vehicle sirens created a chaotic symphony across the darkened streets. Crowds were spilling out into Michigan Avenue, looking up at the strange, unmarked drones circling overhead.

Emma knelt on the vibration-heavy metal floor, securing a combat tourniquet around Julian’s severed shoulder to keep him from bleeding to death. "Talk to me, Julian! What is the satellite drive for? How do we stop those ships?"

Julian spat a mouthful of crimson onto the deck, laughing through clenched teeth despite his agony. "You can't stop them, cousin. The ships aren't here to bombard the city. They’re here to extract the Core Vault beneath Navy Pier. The vault your grandfather sealed before he died."

Vincent moved forward, his cold eyes bearing down on Julian. "What is in that vault?"

"The gold of three nations... and the digital master keys to every automated defense satellite launched during the Cold War," Julian whispered, his face turning an ashen gray. "The Council doesn't just want wealth. They want global sovereignty. In one hour, their automated deep-drilling submersible will breach the seal. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Emma demanded, shaking him by the collar.

"Unless the Primary Bloodline enters the airlock and triggers the self-purge protocol," Julian gasped, his eyes rolling back in his head as shock took hold. "Blood for blood, Emma. That’s how your grandfather built it. The door only opens for a Ward... and it only dies with one."

Julian lost consciousness, his head slumping forward against his chest.

The helicopter suddenly lurched violently as a proximity alarm blared through the cockpit.

"Missile launch detected from the lead frigate!" the pilot screamed through the intercom. "Two radar-guided sea-skimmers closing fast! Countermeasures deployed!"

Bright magnesium flares erupted from the tail of the helicopter, illuminating the blizzard in blinding bursts of orange and white. One missile detonated early, caught by a decoy flare, sending a massive concussive shockwave that cracked the chopper's cabin windows.