Mike <b>chased </b><b>a </b>man up to the Iron ralling on the second floor. Just as he was <b>about </b><b>to </b>close the distance, the man, Frank Goode<b>, </b>spun around, perched himself on the railing, and <b>barked</b>, “Don’te any closed!”
In his arms was a little girl with delicate features, her face <b>pale </b>and frightened–it was Sandra
“Stay back! If you take one more step, I’ll throw your daughter off!”
Frank, holding Sandra, had a scar running across his <b>forehead</b><b>. </b>Dressed in a ck tank top, his arms were covered in tattoos, and his face was cruel and menacing.
Mike froze, stepping <b>back </b>a few paces and raising his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I won’te closer. Just don’t do anything rash. Let my daughter go.
and I promise I won’t go after you.”
Franksneered, “And what if I <b>have </b>other demands<b>? </b>You <b>gonna </b>agree to those too?”
“Of course<b>!</b>” Mike’s voler was firm. He didn’t care what the terms were as long as Frank was willing to negotiate. Nothing mattered more than Sandra’s safety.
Juste <b>down </b>from there, I swear, whatever you ask for, I’ll <b>give </b>it to you,” Mike <b>said</b>, his tone sotter now. He was trying to calm the man down.
The railing wasn’t very high, but beneath it was a massive machine, its gears grinding loudly as it operated. If <b>Franklet </b>Sandra go, the consequences would be novelbin
catastrophic.
Stephan<b>, </b>observing from below, gestired subtly to one of <b>his </b>men. The man slipped away, heading toward the machine to try and shut it down.
But there <b>was </b><b>a </b>problem. The machine didn’t have a visible power switch, and its <b>wiring </b>was hidden deep within the structure, making it nearly impossible to disable quickly.
Realizing the movement below, Frank tightened his grip on Sandra’s neck and shouted, “Tell your people to back off! Get out of here, or don’t me me for what happens!”
Sandra, barely over two years old<b>, </b>Iwang limply in his arms. She wasn’t crying or making a sound. She was likely drugged during the hours she had been held captive.. The sight of her like this tone at ntike’s heart.
“Stephan!” Mike shouted toward the ground floor. “Tell your men to stand downl Move them out of here!!!
Stephan raised his hand<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>his </b>men immediately began <b>withdrawing</b>, leaving the factory
“You tool Frank snarled his eyes locked on Mike “Move back!”
Mike’s feet felt cooted to the floor. He didn’t want to <b>move</b>, but the threat to Sandra forced him to step back slowly, inch by inch
<b>Frank </b>smirked mockingly and patted Sandra’s face as he taunted Mike, “Mc. Lawson, did you ever think about this moment when you made it impossible for us to survive?”
Mike’s brows furrowed. He couldn’t recall offending a group like this. Then<b>, </b>something clicked.
A month ago, while inspecting <b>a </b>construction site, he fired a group of workers. They’d been harassing a female <b>coworker</b>, but harassment was putting it lightly. It had escted to physical <b>assault</b>,
Mike despised men like that and immediately dismissed everyone tolved, including one of the site supervisors.
Frank’s face twisted with anger<b>. </b>“That’s night. I’m that supervisor you firedst month. With just one word, you ruined us. You made it impossible for me and my friends to <b>make </b><b>a </b><b>living</b>. Do you think the world is that easy for people like us? Huh? Do you think you can just walk away?
This was revenge
Mike’s eyes darkened, and uncontroble fury surged within him.
“Take it out one, he said, his voice cold and sharp. “Leave my daughter out of <b>this</b><b>.</b>”
“Oh, <b>no</b>. That’s not how I work, Frank sneered, histone dripping with malice, “I hate rich bastards like you. Since I can’t touch you, I’ll make do with your daughter. It’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Frank’s smile tamed sinister as he raised Sandra higher, dangling her over the <b>void</b>. She would fall straight into the roaring machine below if he let go
Mike’s heart <b>nearly </b>stopped. His eyes turned bloodshot as he lunged forward in a desperate attempt to save her.
But the distance was too great, and he wouldn’t make it in time.