"HE THOUGHT HE WAS SAVING AN ORPHAN BABY... UNTIL HE READ HIS FATHER'S SECRET WILL!"

CLACK.

Daniel caught the bundled child tightly against his chest, slamming shoulder-first into the heavy steel wheel of the landing gear. The impact knocked the wind out of him, but he held the infant securely. Noah coughed, let out a sharp cry, and then settled into his brother's arms.

On the ground beside the jet, Julian lay twisted at the bottom of the metal stairs, his neck bent at an unnatural angle. His eyes were wide open, staring blankly up into the pouring rain. The fall had broken his spine instantly.

The remaining mercenaries looked from Julian’s lifeless body to Helen’s drawn weapon, then slowly lowered their firearms and raised their hands in surrender.

Clara ran over, falling to her knees beside Daniel. "Is he okay? Is Noah okay?!"

Daniel looked down at the tiny baby boy cradled in his arms. Noah’s cheeks were cold, but his breathing was steadying.

"He's alive," Daniel breathed, a tear slipping down his nose and splashing onto the baby's blanket. "He's alive."

Two hours later, red and blue emergency lights illuminated the tarmac as federal agents, local police, and medical personnel swarmed the scene.

Inside an ambulance, a paramedic wrapped a thermal blanket around Annie and Noah. Helen stood outside the doors, talking quietly with federal prosecutors, agreeing to turn over all evidence of Whitaker Global's illegal operations in exchange for full immunity for herself and her children.

Daniel walked up to Helen, holding a warm cup of coffee. He handed it to her.

"The board of directors is dissolving Whitaker Global by noon today," Daniel said quietly. "All frozen assets are being transferred into a blind trust for Noah and Annie."

Helen took a sip of the coffee, looking at Daniel with a mixture of sadness and respect. "Your father was a bad man, Daniel. But you... you aren't like him."

"I spent my whole life trying to build walls," Daniel admitted, looking over at Clara, who was holding Annie’s hand inside the ambulance. "I thought I was protecting my family. But walls just keep you trapped inside with your own ghosts."