Chapter 13 - The Siege of the Dunes
The safe room was a reinforced walk-in closet in the center of the cottage, built with steel-reinforced studs and a heavy, deadbolted door disguised as a bookshelf. Sarah hurried Jamie and a sleeping Grace inside, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the intruders could hear it.
"Stay here, Jamie," Sarah whispered, kissing her son’s forehead. "Keep your sister quiet. No matter what you hear, do not open this door unless it's me or your father. Do you understand?"
Jamie nodded, his young face pale but determined. "I'll protect her, Mom."
Sarah closed the door, locking it from the inside, and then took her place in the corner, holding a small flashlight in her shaking hand.
Outside in the darkened living room, Liam stood near the hallway, his back pressed against the wall. He had turned off all the lights in the house, leaving only the silver moonlight filtering through the French doors. The wind was howling outside, rattling the glass, masking the sounds of anyone approaching.
Suddenly, the glass of the kitchen window shattered with a sharp, explosive crack.
A shadow rolled through the broken frame, landing lightly on the hardwood floor. In the dim light, Liam could see the silhouette of a man holding a suppressed pistol, wearing tactical gear and a balaclava.
Liam didn't hesitate. He stepped out from the hallway, raised his weapon, and fired twice.
The shots were loud in the confined space, the muzzle flashes illuminating the room for a fraction of a second. The intruder groaned, dropping his weapon and collapsing to the floor with a heavy thud, clutching his shoulder.
Before Liam could move to secure him, a second shadow appeared at the French doors, firing several rounds through the glass. The wood paneling near Liam's head splintered as he threw himself behind the heavy oak dining table.
"Vance!" a voice called out from the darkness outside—a voice Liam recognized instantly, even after three years. It was dry, cold, and dripping with sadistic amusement. Victor Reyes. "You always were a stubborn bastard. But you're outmatched tonight. I have five men out here, and your federal watchdogs down the road are currently tied up with a fake active-shooter diversion at the local marina. You're alone, Liam."
Liam pressed his back against the table, his breathing controlled. He knew Reyes was trying to bait him into panicking. "You're trespassing on my property, Victor!" Liam shouted back, his voice echoing in the ruined room. "And you're underestimating the home court advantage!"
"I don't want your life, Liam! At least, not yet!" Reyes laughed, the sound muffled by the wind. "I want the encryption keys to the Zurich account. Give me the drive, and I walk away. I'll even let you keep your pretty wife and those beautiful kids. But if you make me come in there and take it, I'll make sure you watch them slide into the sand before I put a bullet in your head."
Liam looked at his laptop sitting on the desk across the room. The blue light of the screen was still glowing, a beacon in the darkness. He knew he couldn't win a prolonged shootout against five armed men. He needed to change the rules of the game.
"The drive is encrypted with a biometric scan, Victor!" Liam lied, his voice steady. "If you kill me, the system wipes the accounts permanently. The forty million is gone forever. You want the money? You come in here alone and negotiate."
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There was a long silence from the dunes outside. The wind screamed through the broken glass of the kitchen window, carrying the scent of salt water and gunpowder.
"Alright, Liam," Reyes’s voice came back, closer this time. "Let's negotiate."
