CHAPTER 9 — THE FINAL BETRAYAL
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
Federal agents stormed through the smoke, shouting commands.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation! Drop your weapons!"
Gunfire exploded from every direction.
Adrian's men returned fire while Daniel struggled against the ropes binding his wrists.
Detective Marcus Hale emerged through the smoke wearing a bulletproof vest.
"Daniel!"
Marcus fired twice, forcing Adrian's bodyguards to retreat.
A federal agent rushed over and cut Daniel free.
"Can you walk?"
Daniel nodded weakly.
"Emily... Lily... where are they?"
Marcus answered without taking his eyes off Adrian.
"They're alive. We found them an hour ago."
Relief washed over Daniel for only a second.
Then Adrian laughed.
"You really think this is over?"
He pressed a small remote hidden in his pocket.
A loud beep echoed through the warehouse.
Every agent froze.
Marcus looked around.
Then he saw them.
Explosives.
Dozens of military-grade charges had been attached to the steel support columns.
A digital timer lit up.
05:00
Five minutes.
If the warehouse collapsed, everyone inside would die.
Panic spread instantly.
"Bomb!"
"Evacuate!"
Agents rushed toward the exits.
Marcus grabbed Daniel.
"We have to go!"
But Daniel stopped.
"What about Adrian?"
Marcus turned.
The criminal was calmly walking toward the center of the warehouse.
He wasn't running.
He was smiling.
"You still don't understand," Adrian said.
"I never planned to survive."
Marcus's face darkened.
"This was a suicide mission."
Adrian looked directly at Daniel.
"I wanted the world to remember one story."
"The Carter brothers destroyed each other."
Then he pulled out a pistol...
And pointed it at Captain Richard Lawson.
The corrupt captain had secretly slipped into the warehouse during the firefight, hoping to eliminate everyone involved.
Lawson's eyes widened.
"You promised I'd be protected!"
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"I never keep promises to traitors."
BANG!
Lawson fell instantly.
With his dying breath, he whispered,
"The... judge... wasn't... your father..."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
Before anyone could ask another question...
The countdown reached two minutes.
May you like
Marcus shouted,
"RUN!"
