Chapter 7 - THE SACRIFICE
The gunshot echoed over the howling wind, freezing the blood in Elena’s veins.
She couldn't turn around. She was hanging half-off the ten-story ledge, every ounce of her strength focused on her bleeding fingers, gripping the metal crossbar of Leo’s wheelchair. Below them, the city streets blurred in a terrifying, dizzying drop.
"Hold on, Leo!" Elena screamed, her muscles tearing as the heavy wheelchair swung slightly in the violent wind. "Look at me! Don't look down!"
Leo was sobbing, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests. "Mom, you're slipping!"
She was. The rain was washing the blood from her torn palms, making the metal impossibly slick. She was sliding inches at a time toward the edge.
Behind her on the roof, absolute chaos erupted.
When Julian had leveled his gun at Chloe, Marcus hadn't hesitated. The billionaire had charged the armed man, roaring like a wounded lion.
Julian had pulled the trigger.
The bullet tore directly through Marcus’s left shoulder, exploding in a spray of crimson. But the impact didn't stop the older man. Fueled by a father’s primal rage, Marcus slammed into Julian with the force of a freight train.
They crashed onto the wet gravel, the gun skittering out of Julian’s hand.
Marcus brought the heavy metal tire iron down, smashing it into Julian’s knee. The sickening crack of bone shattered the air. Julian screamed, a high-pitched wail of agony, clutching his ruined leg.
"Dad!" Chloe screamed, struggling to her feet with her hands still bound. She saw the blood pouring from her father’s shoulder.
Marcus didn't stop to assess his own wound. He dropped the tire iron, ignoring Julian writhing on the roof, and sprinted toward the ledge.
Elena was failing. Her upper body was sliding off the concrete. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for the horrific drop, praying she could pull Leo close enough to cushion his fall with her own body.
Suddenly, two massive, strong hands clamped down on Elena’s wrists.
Marcus dug his expensive leather shoes into the gravel, throwing his entire body weight backward. "I’ve got you!" he roared, his face pale, blood soaking his torn white shirt. "Pull!"
Together, with a final, agonizing heave, they dragged the heavy wheelchair up and over the concrete ledge.
The chair slammed onto the safe roof, tipping backward. Leo tumbled out, landing hard on the wet gravel.
Elena collapsed backward, gasping violently for air, her entire body shaking uncontrollably. She scrambled across the gravel on her hands and knees, throwing her arms around Leo, burying her face in his soaked jacket, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm okay, Mom," Leo cried, burying his face in her neck. "I'm okay."
Marcus dropped to his knees beside them, his breathing shallow and ragged. He looked at Elena, offering a weak, trembling smile. "You didn't let go."
Before Elena could answer, a terrifying, metallic click sounded directly behind them.
They froze.
Julian had dragged himself across the roof, leaving a trail of blood from his shattered knee. He had reached the gun. He was propped up against an air conditioning unit, his face contorted in sheer, unadulterated hatred. He aimed the barrel directly at Marcus’s head.
"You ruined everything," Julian hissed, blood dripping from his mouth. "I built this empire for you, Marcus! I did the dirty work you were too weak to do!"
"You're a monster, Julian," Marcus said quietly, not moving an inch, keeping his body between the gun and Elena.
"I'm a survivor," Julian sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger. "Goodbye, old man."
THWACK.
Chloe Vance, her hands still zip-tied behind her back, sprinted across the roof and drop-kicked Julian directly in the side of the head with her heavy designer boot.
Julian’s head snapped sideways, slamming violently into the metal air conditioning unit. The gun fired into the sky, slipping from his fingers as he slumped forward, completely unconscious.
Chloe stood over him, her chest heaving, the rain washing the blood and makeup from her face. The spoiled, arrogant girl who had slapped Elena at the valet stand was gone. In her place stood a woman who had finally chosen to protect her family.
The heavy steel doors of the roof stairwell burst open.
A dozen heavily armed SWAT officers swarmed onto the roof, flashlights piercing the darkness, assault rifles raised. "Drop your weapons! Hands in the air!"
"He's unconscious!" Marcus yelled over the storm, pointing to Julian.
Officers rushed forward, kicking the gun away and dragging Julian’s limp body into handcuffs. Paramedics flooded the roof right behind them, rushing toward Leo and Elena with thermal blankets.
Elena let the paramedics wrap a thick blanket around her and Leo, but her eyes never left Marcus.
The adrenaline was finally fading. The billionaire looked down at his shoulder. The bullet had hit an artery. The blood was pumping rapidly, completely soaking his shirt and pooling on the wet gravel.
Marcus swayed on his feet, his face turning ghostly white.
"Dad?" Chloe gasped, falling to her knees beside him.
Marcus looked at his daughter, raising a trembling hand to brush the wet hair from her face. "I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm so sorry I didn't protect you."
Marcus’s eyes rolled back. He collapsed backward onto the roof, entirely unresponsive.
"Dad!" Chloe shrieked, pressing her bound hands desperately against his bleeding chest. "Help him! Somebody help him!"
Paramedics swarmed the billionaire, ripping his shirt open, shouting medical codes into their radios.
Elena clutched Leo tightly, staring in horror as a paramedic furiously began chest compressions on Marcus Vance.
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The heart monitor they hooked him up to emitted a long, continuous, terrifying tone.
He was flatlining.
