Mia watched with growing alarm as Claus seemed momentarily distracted by Daniel's words. She knew how focused Claus usually was in such situations, and seeing him lower his guard even for a moment was unnerving. She had distracted him.

Before she could utter a word of caution, Daniel seized the opportunity. With a swift and unexpected motion, he grabbed a heavy object nearby and struck Claus on the side of his head. The blow caught Claus off guard, causing him to lose his balance and ...