Chapter 6 - The Setup
Vincent slammed on the brakes and violently spun the steering wheel.
The heavy pursuit truck drifted across the icy highway toward downtown Chicago.
He realized Laurel had lied about heading to the shipyard to create a distraction.
She was taking Hannah back to the Halstead Hotel for a specific reason.
The hotel was currently hosting the foundation's executive board meeting.
Laurel was planning to parade a broken and captive Hannah in front of the board.
She wanted to prove that Vincent was incapable of protecting his own family.
Vincent pressed the gas pedal to the floor and ignored every red light.
He arrived at the Halstead Hotel in less than twelve minutes.
He did not bother parking the truck in the underground garage.
He drove the massive vehicle straight through the front glass doors of the lobby.
Panicked guests screamed and scattered as the truck destroyed the reception desk.
Vincent stepped out of the wreckage holding his assault rifle.
He did not look like a philanthropist tonight.
He marched toward the private elevator reserved for board members.
Two Romano guards in cheap suits stepped out of the stairwell with drawn weapons.
Vincent did not even break his stride as he fired two precise shots.
The guards collapsed to the marble floor before they could pull their triggers.
Vincent stepped over their bodies and swiped his master keycard.
The elevator doors closed and began the long ascent to the penthouse boardroom.
He checked his ammunition and took a deep breath to steady his racing heart.
The elevator chimed and the metal doors slowly slid open.
Vincent stepped into the hallway and found it completely deserted.
He walked toward the heavy mahogany doors of the main conference room.
He kicked the doors open and raised his rifle.
The massive room was entirely empty.
The board members were not there and Laurel was nowhere in sight.
Vincent lowered his weapon in complete confusion.
Suddenly a massive flat-screen television on the far wall flickered to life.
The screen displayed a live feed of the basement boiler room.
Laurel was standing over a massive network of natural gas pipes.
She was holding Hannah at gunpoint next to a heavy explosive charge.
Laurel looked at the camera and smiled wickedly.
She thanked Vincent for coming exactly where she wanted him.
She revealed that the Romano family didn't want the foundation.
They wanted Vincent buried under five tons of burning hotel rubble.
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Laurel pressed her finger against the detonator button.
Before she could push it down a massive shadow moved behind her in the dark boiler room.
