Chapter 10 - A FATHER’S CHOICE
The gunman held Ethan against his chest.
A pistol pressed against the boy’s temple.
Victor stopped moving.
“Let him go.”
Evelyn walked closer.
“Give me what belongs to me.”
“Nothing belongs to you.”
“The trust.”
“You cannot access it.”
“With Ethan and Sophie under my guardianship, I can.”
Victor glanced toward the dock.
Damian moved slightly.
Alive.
Nora and Martha were nowhere visible.
Sophie had to be with them.
Victor returned his focus to Ethan.
His son was crying silently.
Victor forced his voice to remain calm.
“Look at me, buddy.”
Ethan did.
“Remember what I taught you about fear?”
Ethan nodded.
“Fear talks loud.”
“But it isn’t always strong.”
The gunman tightened his grip.
“Stop talking.”
Victor ignored him.
Evelyn said, “Sign the emergency guardianship acknowledgement.”
Charles held up a folder.
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You brought paperwork to a kidnapping?”
Evelyn smiled.
“I was an accountant.”
Victor looked toward Marcus.
His security chief was hidden behind the wrecked garage.
One shot.
That was all he needed.
But Ethan’s head was too close to the gun.
Victor held out his hand.
“Give me the papers.”
Charles approached.
Victor took the folder.
“Pen.”
Charles handed him one.
Victor looked at the signature line.
He thought about Sophie.
Ethan.
His mother.
His brother.
Then he signed.
Evelyn smiled.
“Smart.”
Victor handed it back.
“Now let him go.”
Evelyn examined the signature.
Then tore the page in half.
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
“I needed to know you would choose your children over your fortune.”
Victor stared.
“That was never the real document.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“You really are different from your father.”
Charles looked irritated.
“Enough.”
He lifted his gun toward Ethan.
Victor shouted, “WAIT!”
Evelyn turned.
Charles fired.
But not at Ethan.
The gunman holding Ethan collapsed.
A bullet had struck him from behind.
Everyone froze.
A woman stood near the dock.
Wet hair.
Black jacket.
Gun raised.
Serena.
Victor stared.
“Serena?”
She fired again.
Charles ducked.
Chaos exploded.
Marcus returned fire.
Damian grabbed Ethan and rolled behind the dock wall.
Victor ran toward his son.
Evelyn screamed, “KILL HER!”
Serena fired at Evelyn’s men.
One fell.
Another fled toward the vehicles.
Victor reached Ethan.
“Dad!”
Victor grabbed him.
“I’ve got you.”
Damian pressed a hand against his bleeding side.
“Just a graze.”
“You sure?”
“I’ve had worse.”
Serena shouted from across the yard.
“Victor!”
He looked up.
Charles had moved behind Evelyn.
Gun against her back.
Evelyn froze.
Charles smiled.
“I’m done taking orders.”
Serena aimed at him.
Charles pulled Evelyn backward toward an SUV.
“You shoot, she dies.”
Serena laughed.
“You think I care?”
For the first time, Evelyn looked frightened.
“Serena.”
Her daughter stared at her.
“You threw me into the river.”
“You betrayed the plan.”
“You tried to murder me.”
“I gave you everything.”
“No.”
Serena’s eyes filled.
“You gave me your hate.”
Charles dragged Evelyn closer to the vehicle.
Serena’s finger tightened on the trigger.
Victor stood.
“Serena.”
She looked at him.
“Don’t.”
“She deserves it.”
“Maybe.”
“But Ethan is watching.”
Serena looked toward the boy.
The gun lowered slightly.
That hesitation saved Evelyn.
Charles fired.
The bullet struck Serena in the stomach.
She collapsed.
Victor ran.
Marcus shot Charles in the leg.
He fell beside the SUV.
Police sirens screamed in the distance.
Victor dropped beside Serena.
Blood spread across her jacket.
She looked up at him.
“Funny.”
“What?”
“You finally came home early.”
Victor pressed his hands against the wound.
“Stay with me.”
She coughed.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I hated your name.”
“I know.”
Her eyes shifted toward Ethan.
“But I didn’t mean to break his arm.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“That doesn’t fix it.”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“I know.”
Victor looked toward paramedics racing into the yard.
Serena grabbed his wrist.
“Victor.”
“What?”
“Your mother’s crash…”
He leaned closer.
“What about it?”
Serena whispered:
May you like
“Your father wasn’t the one who ordered it.”
Then her eyes closed.
