Chapter 9 - FIRE
Dominic ran toward the tunnel.
Clara followed.
“Stay with your mother!”
“No!”
Smoke filled the basement.
They reached the utility entrance.
One guard was down.
The second was bleeding.
Noah was gone.
Dominic grabbed him.
“Where is my son?”
“Marcus took him.”
Dominic’s face became murderous.
“Which way?”
“Roof access.”
Clara realized the truth.
Marcus never wanted only the companies.
He wanted leverage.
Noah was the final piece.
They pushed through smoke.
Halfway upstairs, Helen shouted from below.
“Clara!”
Clara looked back.
A beam fell.
Flames separated them.
“Mom!”
“Go!”
Helen pointed upward.
“Save him!”
Clara followed Dominic.
On the roof, wind drove smoke across the building.
Marcus stood near the edge holding Noah by the arm.
Evelyn was on her knees beside him.
The moment Noah saw her, he screamed.
“Mommy!”
Evelyn sobbed.
“My baby!”
Dominic stopped ten feet away.
“Let him go.”
Marcus smiled.
“Sign.”
“You’re surrounded.”
“No.”
Marcus pointed down.
Police vehicles were arriving.
But he had positioned himself beside a helicopter.
The pilot waited.
“You have thirty seconds.”
Dominic raised both hands.
“Okay.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Dominic, don’t.”
“I don’t care about the companies.”
Marcus laughed.
“That’s why you’ll lose them.”
Clara stayed hidden behind a ventilation structure.
She saw something Marcus did not.
Noah was staring at her.
Clara placed one finger against her lips.
Then she slowly opened her hand.
Noah understood.
Marcus loosened his grip for one second.
Noah bit him.
Hard.
Marcus screamed.
Noah dropped.
Clara ran.
A gun fired.
Dominic tackled Marcus.
Clara grabbed Noah before he reached the edge.
Evelyn rushed toward them.
“Noah!”
Mother and son collided.
Noah buried himself against her chest.
“Mommy!”
Evelyn held him so tightly Clara thought she might never let go.
Behind them, Dominic and Marcus fought near the helicopter.
Marcus pulled a knife.
Dominic caught his wrist.
Marcus spat blood.
“You think Hargrove worked for me?”
Dominic froze.
Marcus smiled.
“She owns me.”
May you like
Then Mrs. Hargrove stepped from the helicopter.
Holding a gun aimed directly at Evelyn.
