Chapter 129

The rain fell in sheets as Sebastian Valdemar's slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the metal scaffolding. The sharp clang of metal blended eerily with the downpour.

"The Rolands certainly trained their attack dog well." A smirk played at the corners of his lips. "Even dirty work like live burials doesn't faze you."

The foreman cowered in the corner, his overalls caked with mud. "Please...my daughter just started kindergarten..."

Evelyn Roland shook rainwater from her hair, the glow of her phone screen casting sharp shadows across her profile. The mine coordinates pulsed on her navigation map like the glowing eyes of a predator.

"Open it." Her quiet command sent the foreman scrambling for his keys.

Sebastian suddenly gripped her wrist mid-dial. Shadows shifted among the distant trees as five black-clad figures advanced in formation. The lead operative carried a black box emitting a steady red pulse.

"Professional-grade signal jammer." He whistled low. "Your sister's pulling out all the stops."

Evelyn drew a dagger from her boot. Raindrops slid down the blade, leaving dark stains in the mud.

"Vehicle at southeast corner." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Key's tucked behind the left front wheel."

Instead, Sebastian unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing a Beretta 92F at his waist. "What a coincidence. I brought toys too."

Isabella Langley's shrill voice crackled through the phone: "Dispose of that bastard along with her!"

As the operatives drew their weapons, Sebastian kicked over the scaffolding. The collapsing metal canopy sent up a curtain of spray—just as Evelyn's blade buried itself in the nearest attacker's shoulder.

Gunfire merged with thunderclaps. The foreman screamed, covering his head—only to watch Sebastian eject a magazine one-handed and smash the second assailant's jaw with the pistol grip.

"Keep one alive!" Evelyn spun to disarm a third attacker, only to have the fourth lock an arm around her throat. Sebastian's bullet pierced the man's wrist precisely, spraying blood across her pale neck.

The final operative turned to flee—and was sent flying by a sudden lurch of heavy machinery. Miners poured from the bulldozer's cab, wielding shovels like weapons.

"Director Roland!" A coal-dusted worker shouted. "We broke through the backup tunnel!"

Sebastian retrieved the still-active phone. Isabella's breathing turned ragged through the receiver.

"The game's just beginning." His chuckle was velvet over steel. "Pick out a nice gravesite for yourself."

Through the rain, Evelyn watched the groaning operatives, slowly wiping blood from her cheek. Distant sirens wove with the miners' angry shouts—a long-delayed reckoning approaching.