Chapter 17 - The Golden Gala
The night of the grand charity gala was freezing and absolutely beautiful.
The Chicago Museum of History was lit up with massive spotlights that pierced the winter sky.
Hundreds of politicians, celebrities, and philanthropists walked the red carpet in stunning evening wear.
Hannah stood at the top of the grand marble staircase looking like an absolute goddess.
Her custom golden gown shimmered under the crystal chandeliers making her look untouchable.
Vincent stood right beside her wearing a sharp tuxedo that hid his tactical vest perfectly.
He smiled for the cameras and shook hands with the mayor but his eyes were constantly scanning the crowd.
The elite security team communicated through invisible earpieces reporting every movement in the building.
For the first two hours the event went perfectly according to plan.
Millions of dollars were pledged to global charities and the atmosphere was electric with joy.
Then the head of security whispered a terrifying update directly into Vincent's ear.
Three delivery trucks had just crashed through the museum's underground loading dock barriers.
Lorenzo had not tried to sneak his men through the front door disguised as guests.
He had brought a small army of mercenaries to take the entire building hostage by brute force.
Vincent subtly touched Hannah's waist and gave her the prearranged signal to initiate the lockdown.
Hannah calmly walked to the microphone at the center of the grand ballroom.
She pressed a hidden button under the podium that instantly sealed the reinforced steel doors of the hall.
The wealthy guests were safely locked inside the impenetrable ballroom with heavily armed guards.
Vincent did not stay in the safety of the locked room.
He slipped through a hidden service door just before the steel barricades slammed shut.
He was going into the vast empty wings of the museum to face his father one last time.
The ancient artifacts and dinosaur skeletons cast long terrifying shadows across the marble floors.
Vincent drew his suppressed pistol and moved silently through the Egyptian exhibit.
He could hear the heavy boots of Lorenzo's mercenaries marching up the main staircase.
The trap had been sprung perfectly and the rats were now locked inside the maze.
Vincent took a deep breath and prepared to dismantle his father's final army piece by piece.
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He was no longer fighting for territory or money or ego.
He was fighting for the right to simply exist in the light.
