With Brian's command, both Mini Coopers suddenly veered onto the sidewalk, charging forward amid honking horns and startled screams from pedestrians. In an instant, they stormed into the subway station, leaving behind a street full of confused onlookers.
Inside the station, the two cars barreled down the stairs—Owen leading, Heat following close behind.
A shower of sparks erupted as the undercarriages scraped against the steps, but it didn't slow them down in the slightest. Dominic's raised suspension and reinforced armor were doing their job.
After the rough descent, the two MINIs finally reached the platform. The sudden intrusion sent passengers into a panic, scattering in all directions.
Owen blared his horn, maneuvering swiftly through the space as people scrambled out of the way. He smashed through a barrier, steering his car onto the platform itself.
At the far end, the headlights of an approaching subway train came into view. Owen's car now ran parallel to it, and for a brief moment, he locked eyes with the stunned train operator.
Owen floored the gas.
The souped-up Mini Cooper roared as it surged ahead, overtaking the train's front car. He dodged a pillar and veered toward the tracks. Heat was right behind him, mirroring his every move.
The end of the platform was just meters away. Owen accelerated once more, angling the car diagonally toward the tracks.
The train operator's face turned pale. He slammed the emergency brakes, but it was too late.
Owen's Mini leaped off the platform, diving into the subway tunnel. Heat followed just one meter behind, the rear of his car narrowly clearing the platform edge.
The train operator's heart nearly stopped.
One second later, and Heat's car would have been crushed between the train and the concrete wall.
Passengers screamed in shock as the train skidded to a halt. The operator reached for his intercom to report the incident—
Then everything went dark.
The entire subway line lost power.
Inside the blacked-out Range Rover, Becky let out a victorious cheer.
The moment Heat entered the tunnel, she had hit the shutdown button. The entire subway system crashed instantly, and the stopped train now blocked the entrance to the tunnel, sealing off any pursuit.
Underground, Owen and Heat sped through the dimly lit passageway.
They had no choice—this tunnel was the only route that ran directly beneath the convoy's path. If they hadn't disabled the train system, even if they managed to grab Alex, they'd be sitting ducks for an oncoming subway.
Above Ground – The Tension Reaches Its Peak
The convoy had entered the narrow street—the battlefield CTU had prepared.
Everyone involved knew this was it.
The soldiers escorting Alex, the CTU tactical teams in hiding, the FBI agents inside the SUVs—they were all bracing for what was about to come.
The convoy crawled forward, moving slowly. Four military Humvees led and tailed the formation, their windows revealing heavily armed troops inside.
In the middle were several black SUVs, their tinted windows concealing whoever was inside—but no one assumed they were empty.
At the heart of the convoy was an armored cash transport truck, the kind used for high-risk security operations. It had bulletproof plating and reinforced structure, built to withstand an ambush.
Brian watched from his vantage point, scanning the street.
The people along the sidewalk were shifting—hands disappearing into pockets, reaching under jackets. Weapons.
He didn't need to see the rooftops to know there were snipers watching.
Every major player in the city had converged on this one spot.
Traffic slowed as congestion built up ahead. The convoy crept forward. The soldiers inside the Humvees tensed, gripping their weapons.
Above them, multiple helicopters hovered.
Plainclothes agents discreetly ushered oblivious civilians away from the area. Jack Bauer might not care about political consequences, but he wasn't about to let innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire.
The tension was unbearable.
Brian could only hope no one jumped the gun before they did.
Their ambush location had been carefully chosen.
According to the layout of the narrow street, the middle section was the optimal strike zone.
The high-rise buildings on both sides provided cover for attackers, and once the convoy was in the center, it would be completely boxed in—no room to accelerate, no chance to turn around.
That was why Brian had specifically chosen to strike before that zone.
If someone else started shooting too early, the whole plan would fall apart.
Given their numbers and firepower, a direct assault was impossible.
"Convoy has reached the designated point."
Owen's voice crackled over the earpiece.
Deep underground, the two Mini Coopers idled in an open chamber, their headlights slicing through the darkness.
Owen stepped out, crouching behind his car. He pulled out a detonator and held it ready.
Heat readied a tear gas launcher, his other hand resting on a few extra surprises.
Ash, gripping an AK-47, took position at the opposite end of the chamber. They weren't planning to kill anyone, but if the guards put up a fight, they'd have to make sure they stayed down.
Above ground, Brian could see everything even without relying on the street cameras.
The convoy inched forward.
The men on the sidewalk were no longer even pretending to be casual—eyes locked on the vehicles, fingers twitching near hidden weapons. Any second now, someone would make a move.
Brian started counting down in his head.
Ten…
Nine…
Eight…
Beside him, Becky subconsciously held her breath. Her finger hovered over the enter key, trembling slightly.
Seven…
Six…
Brian's voice became audible now, his countdown steady. Becky, nerves shot, started shaking.
Five…
Four…
Three…
Brian suddenly reached over and grabbed Becky's hand, steadying her finger.
He didn't stop counting. His eyes met hers, full of reassurance.
Two…
One…
He let go.
Becky, as if responding to a command, slammed the enter key.
The preloaded instructions zipped through the network, bouncing across countless servers and relay stations until they finally reached the traffic control system.
Instantly, the streetlights flipped from green to red.
Cars at the intersection slammed on their brakes. Horns blared in a chaotic chorus as the entire street came to a screeching halt.
The convoy was no exception.
The lead Humvee braked hard, forcing the entire convoy to stop in sequence.
Inside the armored transport, Alex swayed with the motion.
A feeling of unease crept over him.
Somewhere deep inside, he knew—this was it.
This was his last chance.
But the walls around him were sealed.
Through the tiny metal grates in the driver's cabin, he could only catch glimpses of the outside world.
Then, suddenly—
The entire truck jerked.
It had come to a full stop.
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]