Chapter 7 - The Collapse of Black Lake
The explosive charge detonated with a deafening crack that echoed across the mountains.
The thick surface ice splintered into a web of thousands of spiderweb fractures. With a horrifying screech of tearing structure, the twenty-ton armored personnel carrier plunged through the frozen crust into thirty feet of black, freezing lake water!
"NOOO!" Valetti shrieked as the ice gave way beneath his feet.
Mercenaries, heavy weapons, and armored vehicles were swallowed instantly by the frigid abyss. The chaos was absolute as surviving men scrambled wildly toward the solid shoreline, abandoning their weapons in pure terror.
Alfred didn't hesitate. Despite the bleeding wound on his shoulder, he threw himself sideways onto a solid granite ledge, pulling himself out of the collapsing ice zone just as the boathouse slid into the dark waters.
Through the swirling snow, Marcus, Maya, and Bruno came running back toward the edge of the lake.
"ALFRED!" Maya screamed, breaking free from Marcus's grip and sprinting through the snow as fast as her small legs could carry her.
She threw her arms around Alfred's neck, sobbing hysterically into his blood-stained coat. Bruno pressed his wet nose against Alfred's cheek, whining softly with deep relief.
Alfred wrapped his strong arm around the little girl, pulling her close against his chest. "I told you, Maya... I keep my promises."
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Marcus reached the ledge, gasping for air, looking down at the massive hole in the lake where Valetti’s command force had vanished. "Boss... is Valetti dead?"
"It doesn't matter if he survived the water," Alfred said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the red ledger from the iron box. "His empire dies tonight."
