Chapter 6 - The Ransom
Vincent pushed Leah and Maisie behind a dumpster.
He drew his pistol and fired three times.
Two of the armed men dropped to the pavement.
The remaining two opened fire, shredding the brick wall above Vincent's head.
Vincent grabbed Leah's hand and pulled her down a narrow side street.
They sprinted through the dark alleys of South Philadelphia.
They finally lost their pursuers near an abandoned motel.
Vincent broke the lock on room number seven.
He ushered them inside and locked the deadbolt.
Maisie was shivering uncontrollably from the cold and terror.
Vincent took off his expensive suit jacket.
He wrapped it gently around the little girl's shoulders.
Maisie looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes.
She told him he was bleeding.
Vincent forced a soft smile and promised her he was fine.
He handed Leah a burner phone from his pocket.
He told her to call a specific number and ask for extraction.
Vincent walked into the dirty bathroom to inspect his shoulder.
He splashed cold water on his face.
He needed to plan a counterattack before morning.
His own burner phone buzzed in his pocket.
He checked the caller ID.
It was an unknown number.
Vincent answered it without saying a word.
Victor Thorne's raspy voice echoed through the speaker.
Thorne laughed and told Vincent he fought well for an old man.
Vincent promised Thorne a slow, agonizing death.
Thorne chuckled again.
He told Vincent to look out the motel window.
Vincent rushed back into the main room.
The front door of the motel room was hanging open.
Maisie was standing alone in the center of the room, sobbing.
Leah was completely gone.
May you like
Thorne's voice purred through the phone.
He said he would trade the mother for the hard drive.
