Chapter 8 - THE MAN ARTHUR CALLED A BROTHER
Arthur tapped his ear.
Nothing.
Daniel noticed.
His smile widened.
“You really thought I wouldn’t check you for a wire?”
Arthur looked down.
Daniel held up a small signal jammer.
“Technology, Arthur. You should try keeping up.”
“You’re not leaving the country with my son.”
“I don’t need to leave with him.”
Arthur froze.
Daniel glanced at Noah.
“I only need his biometric authorization.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The trust company updated its security policy last year. Major transfers involving a minor require live guardian verification and beneficiary identity confirmation.”
“Noah is six.”
“Exactly. Face scan. Voice prompt. Done.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“And then?”
“Then I don’t need him anymore.”
Noah whimpered.
Arthur stepped forward.
Daniel raised the gun.
“Careful.”
“You hurt him, I swear—”
“What? You’ll kill me?”
Daniel laughed.
“That’s the problem with you. You always think money and anger can solve everything.”
Arthur stared at the man he had once considered a brother.
“I was there when your mother died.”
“I remember.”
“I paid your medical bills.”
“I remember.”
“You stood beside me when my father was buried.”
“I remember all of it!”
Daniel’s face twisted.
“And every time, everyone said the same thing. Arthur Vance saved Daniel. Arthur Vance gave Daniel a career. Arthur Vance gave Daniel a life.”
He stepped closer.
“You never once asked what it felt like to spend twelve years being introduced as your lucky friend.”
Arthur stared.
“This is because you felt embarrassed?”
“This is because I built half your empire and owned scraps of it.”
“You could’ve left.”
“I wanted what I earned.”
“So you stole it.”
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“I took it.”
A loud horn sounded outside.
Daniel looked toward the door.
One second.
That was enough.
Arthur slammed into him.
The gun fired.
Noah screamed.
Arthur grabbed Daniel’s wrist and smashed it against a steel beam.
Once.
Twice.
The gun dropped.
Daniel drove his knee into Arthur’s stomach.
Arthur fell.
Daniel kicked him in the ribs.
“You never knew when to stay down.”
Arthur grabbed Daniel’s ankle and pulled.
Both men crashed onto the concrete.
Arthur punched him.
Daniel punched back.
Years of friendship disappeared in seconds of rage.
Daniel reached for the gun.
Arthur saw it.
So did Noah.
“Dad!”
Arthur lunged.
Daniel grabbed the weapon first.
He rolled over.
Aimed.
Then the warehouse lights exploded on.
“POLICE! DROP THE WEAPON!”
Daniel grabbed Noah and pressed the gun against the boy’s shoulder.
“BACK OFF!”
Arthur stopped.
Warren entered with four officers.
“No one needs to die, Daniel.”
“You come closer, the kid gets hurt.”
Noah was sobbing.
Arthur’s hands shook.
“Daniel. Look at me.”
Daniel did.
“You want money?”
“Yes.”
“You want revenge?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Take me.”
Warren whispered, “Arthur, no.”
Arthur ignored him.
“Let Noah go. Take me to the marina.”
Daniel considered it.
Then he smiled.
“That’s the first smart thing you’ve said tonight.”
He shoved Noah toward Warren.
Arthur barely had time to feel relief before Daniel grabbed him by the collar and pressed the gun into his back.
“Walk.”
They backed toward the dock.
A speedboat waited.
Arthur climbed aboard.
Daniel followed.
The engine roared.
Police shouted.
The boat shot into the darkness.
Arthur looked back once.
Noah was alive.
That was enough.
May you like
Then Daniel hit him across the head with the gun.
And everything went black.
