The thick grey smoke drifted away into the cold night air, leaving behind the dark, square hole in the wooden floorboards. Ethan Vance stood right at the edge of the open trapdoor, his pitch-black eyes staring down into the pitch-black void below.Dust and soot covered his torn, blood-stained white shirt, but his massive frame stood strong and steady.Cynthia Thorne stepped up beside him, holding a heavy tactical flashlight in her hand. She clicked the switch, shining a bright beam of yellow light down into the opening. The bright light showed a set of old stone steps leading deep under the mansion foundation."He got away during the smoke," Cynthia said, her voice sharp and filled with anger. "The old snake built a secret exit right under his dining table."Thomas ran over with two of their most trusted men, their heavy boots thudding against the floor tiles. Thomas’s face was covered in sweat, and his hands held his shotgun tightly."Young Master Ethan," Thomas said quickly, lookin

The tiny yellow match flame flickered softly in the cold, damp air of the underground tunnel. The bright light cast long, dark shadows across the wet stone walls and the rusted iron bars of the river grate. Silas Vance held the burning match right underneath the small, heavy iron box. His hand trembled wildly, but his small eyes burned with a mad, desperate fire.Inside that small iron box sat the ancient, leather bound family ledger. It was not just a book of old bank numbers. It contained every single name, signature, and bank code of the powerful international lords who had helped Silas plan the terrible crash on that rainy mountain road five years ago.Silas looked at Ethan with a wicked, ugly grin, his voice shaking with crazy pride. "You think I acted alone, Ethan? You think a simple uncle could pull off the complete downfall of Arthur Vance all by himself? There are bigger monsters sitting in high chairs across the ocean! The names of every single corrupt banker, fake judge,

The quiet hum of the underground tunnel returned as the thick grey smoke slowly cleared away. The smell of burnt leather and wet iron hung heavy in the damp air. Silas Vance lay motionless on his back in the shallow, murky water, his eyes closed and his body completely beaten. The rusted iron grate behind him blocked the cold river, and the dark water swirled softly around his ruined black suit.Ethan Vance stood tall over his fallen uncle, looking as solid as a mountain peak. He held the warm iron box tightly in his broad right hand. His white shirt was torn, stained with dried blood and soot, and his broken ribs still ached with a dull, burning pain. But his hands remained perfectly steady.Thomas and Cynthia Thorne walked up quickly behind Ethan, their boots splashing through the dirty water along the stone floor. Thomas held his heavy shotgun at his side, his sharp eyes scanning the dark corners of the round stone chamber to make sure no more guards were hiding in the shadows."I

The freezing water pulled hard on Ethan Vance's heavy body as he sank deeper into the pitch-black river current. The wounded mercenary held onto his right ankle with a death grip, refusing to let go. Down in the dark mud at the riverbed, the cold pressure was crushing Ethan's chest. His lungs burned like red hot coals, screaming for a single breath of fresh air. Black spots danced wildly across his vision, warning him that his body was running out of time fast.Ethan did not give up. He reached down with his left hand, pressing his palm flat against his inner suit jacket through the rushing water. The heavy iron box holding the precious ledger was still tucked safely inside his pocket. He had survived cage fights, poison, and snipers. He was not going to drown in a dirty underground river.Using the last bit of strength in his massive body, Ethan bent his upper body downward against the powerful current. His right hand reached toward his leather belt, where a small, simple folding p

Arthur Pendelton stood tall on the dry stone ledge, his gloved finger tightening around the double triggers of the heavy hunting shotgun. His eyes shone with a cruel, cold light as he prepared to pull the iron levers and end the Vance bloodline forever. The twin barrels pointed straight at Ethan's forehead, just ten feet away in the dim cave.Ethan Vance did not wait for the trigger to fall. He knew that if he tried to jump left or right, the heavy lead blast would catch him in midair and tear him to pieces. He needed to stop the iron barrels before the powder ignited inside the metal chambers.In one smooth, lightning fast motion, Ethan peeled off his heavy, wet leather jacket with both hands.As Arthur's gloved finger pulled the heavy iron trigger, Ethan whipped the wet leather jacket through the air like a heavy net, throwing it straight over the end of the shotgun barrels.BOOM!The massive explosion roared through the narrow stone cave, sounding like a cannon going off inside a