18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 393

Stella didn't waste a second. She hopped into her truck and drove off under the cover of night, the small, forgotten town disappearing in her rearview mirror.

Upon reaching Mount Murray, she quickly traded two truckloads of coal. Then, she used ether to knock out her captives again, ensuring they wouldn't wake up before noon the next day.

Jasper tied the captives up like hogs ready for slaughter, gagged them with rags, and hid them among a pile of stones.

They found a secluded spot and, in no time, the three of them, along with their loyal dog, had their tent pitched and were cozily wrapped in their sleeping bags.

A little after seven, they woke up and ate their campfire breakfast, enjoying the crisp mountain breeze.

Around ten, Rosie, who was on lookout, whistled down to them, "Sis, they're coming."

Two rickety off-road vehicles were making their way towards Mount Murray, bouncing along the rough path.

Everything was going according to plan. The trio readied their rifles, while Cooper, who wasn’t handy with weapons, paced nervously.

Minutes later, the vehicles came to a halt at the foot of the mountain. Along with the thugs from the previous night, seven or eight more men stepped out.

Two of them looked vaguely familiar, as if they had once tried to schmooze their way into the gang, showcasing the old tricks of the Whirlwind crew.

"Black Dog, where’s your boss?" a portly man, dressed sharper than the rest and with a cigarette dangling from his lips, surveyed the surroundings warily. "You better not be playing games with me."

"Mr. Ty, you jest," Black Dog said with a groveling smile. "We depend on you for our bread and butter. Wouldn’t dare cross you, not for all the tea in China."

"Your suspicions about them offing your guys were right. They put up quite the fight, and we lost a few men capturing them. The boss is personally keeping watch over them, ensuring no tricks."

"They're stashed in a cave. I'll lead you there. Mr. Ty, we lost a lot of good men. Two hundred pounds of grain ain’t cutting it. Any chance for a top-up?"

Mr. Ty played coy, "Let’s see the merchandise first."

Once these two were dealt with, none of the Whirlwind could be left standing.

Thinking of the points Stella and Jasper were about to score, Mr. Ty was itching to get his hands on the card and the passcode. Life would be worry-free after that.

And with their heads as proof, he'd walk the base like he owned the place.

His mind swam with delight, and he was about to take a drag of his cigarette when a muffled 'pop' sounded, and his bodyguard dropped dead beside him, a neat hole in his forehead.

"What the hell, you double-cross me?" Mr. Ty roared, drawing his gun to exact revenge on Black Dog. But a searing pain shot through his arm, and his weapon clattered to the ground.

Black Dog was just as shocked and quickly surrendered, "Don’t shoot, don’t shoot, I did what you told me."

Several bullets later, aside from Mr. Ty, the rest of the Whirlwind crew lay dispatched on the ground.

Mr. Ty was furious and shocked, and he tried to flee in his vehicle.

Rosie pulled the trigger, not only blowing out the tires but also sending a couple of rounds into Mr. Ty's thigh.

With multiple bullet wounds, Mr. Ty couldn’t stand and was left crawling on the ground.

Not just him, even two of Black Dog’s men had been neutralized, leaving Black Dog trembling in fear, cursing Mr. Ty’s ancestors.

Damn it all, if he’d known how dangerous this mission was, he wouldn't have taken it for all the gold in Fort Knox.

Not only had he earned not a single grain, but his own hideout had been uprooted.

Truly, he felt like crying.

Stella, Jasper, Cooper, and the dog emerged from their hiding spot and slowly approached Mr. Ty, who was struggling in a pool of his own blood.

Mr. Ty glared at Stella with hatred.

Stella didn't appreciate his gaze, and she stepped on his chest. "Keep staring, and I'll gouge those eyes out."

She pressed hard, forcing the air out of his lungs, and Mr. Ty felt as if his ribs were breaking. "What... what do you want?"

Stella smirked at him. "Shouldn’t I be asking you that?"

Mr. Ty, having mixed it up at the base for years, knew the fate of the vanquished, but who doesn't fear death when it stares them in the face?

He spoke through gritted teeth, bearing the pain. "If I tell you, can we let bygones be bygones?"