Chapter 10 - THE SHOT
Elena heard three gunshots.
Then nothing.
Her ears rang.
Someone slammed her to the floor.
Kim.
“Stay down!”
Elena fought her.
“Mateo!”
Smoke and shattered glass filled the hallway.
Daniel crawled toward the doorway.
Vanessa screamed from inside.
“Daniel!”
He stopped.
Elena saw blood on Vanessa’s shoulder.
Pierce was dragging Mateo toward a back exit.
Mateo kicked wildly.
“LET ME GO!”
Elena broke free.
She ran through the broken glass.
“Pierce!”
He turned.
The syringe was still in his hand.
“Stop.”
Elena kept coming.
“Stop or I inject him.”
She stopped.
Mateo sobbed.
“Mommy.”
Elena raised her hands.
“Okay.”
Her voice shook.
“Okay.”
Pierce backed toward the exit.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Elena stared at him.
“You should have stayed a doctor.”
He smiled.
“I was never only a doctor.”
Behind him, Marisol appeared in the doorway.
Pierce didn’t see her.
Elena did.
Marisol held a metal oxygen tank.
Pierce stepped backward.
Marisol swung.
The tank hit his shoulder.
The syringe flew.
Mateo dropped.
Elena ran.
She grabbed him.
Pierce punched Marisol.
She fell hard.
Daniel rushed him.
The two men crashed into a cart.
Pierce pulled a knife.
Daniel froze.
Pierce stabbed forward.
Vanessa screamed.
She threw herself between them.
The knife entered her side.
Daniel caught her.
“Vanessa!”
Pierce ran.
Kim’s officers tackled him near the exit.
Elena held Mateo against her chest.
He shook violently.
“Mommy.”
“I’m here.”
“Don’t let go.”
“I won’t.”
Vanessa was on the floor.
Blood spread across her cream dress.
Daniel pressed both hands over the wound.
“Stay with me.”
Vanessa looked up at him.
Her lips trembled.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel’s face twisted.
“Don’t.”
“I wanted…”
She gasped.
“I wanted one thing that was mine.”
Daniel stared at her.
“A child isn’t a thing.”
She cried.
“I know.”
“No.”
His voice broke.
“You knew.”
Vanessa looked toward Elena.
Then Mateo.
“I was supposed to deliver him.”
Elena’s eyes hardened.
“To who?”
Vanessa struggled to speak.
“Horizon clients.”
“Which clients?”
“A couple overseas.”
Daniel looked horrified.
Vanessa continued.
“But I couldn’t.”
Elena stared.
“You kept him.”
Vanessa nodded weakly.
“I told myself I saved him.”
Elena whispered:
“You stole him twice.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Mateo buried his face against Elena.
Vanessa whispered:
“I loved him.”
Elena’s voice was cold.
“You loved the life you built around him.”
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
Maybe that hurt more.
Paramedics rushed in.
They lifted her onto a stretcher.
Before she disappeared, Vanessa looked at Mateo one last time.
Mateo did not look back.
Pierce was handcuffed nearby.
He laughed.
Kim turned.
“What’s funny?”
Pierce stared at Elena.
“You think this ends with me?”
Elena said nothing.
“You have no idea who paid us.”
Kim grabbed his arm.
“Save it.”
Pierce smiled wider.
Then looked at Daniel.
“Ask your father.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Pierce’s smile vanished as officers dragged him away.
Daniel stared after him.
Elena looked at Daniel.
“Your father?”
May you like
Daniel went pale.
“My father founded Horizon Family Services.”
