Chapter 17 - The Brink of Destruction
Nathan immediately stepped in front of Claire, shielding her with his own body. "Everett! Put the weapon down! The entire Monaco police force is outside this building!"
"Shut up, you loyal dog!" Everett screamed, kicking Nathan violently in the chest and knocking him to the marble floor.
Claire didn't move an inch. She stood tall, staring straight into Everett’s crazed eyes without a single tremor of fear.
"Look at you, Everett," Claire said quietly, her voice laced with deep pity. "A fugitive, a murderer, crawling through back alleys like a rat. Is this the 'immense power' you boasted about at the Plaza Hotel?"
"You did this to me!" Everett shrieked, his finger tightening on the trigger. "You hid your money! You tricked me! You let me believe I was in control while you pulled the strings behind my back! You humiliated me in front of the world!"
"You humiliated yourself," Claire countered sharply. "You traded ten years of loyalty for a cheap fake sonogram and a handful of lies. You were weak, greedy, and easily manipulated. Even now, you’re just a pawn."
"A pawn?!" Everett laughed maniacally. "I have the trigger, Claire! I own your life right now! Walk out those doors onto the yacht with me, or I execute you and your precious attorney right here!"
Everett pulled a heavy detonator switch from his coat pocket. "And don't bother having your security team shoot me. This detonator is wired to a vest under my coat. My heart stops, and this entire wing of the hotel blows to high heaven."
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Claire glanced at Nathan, who was bleeding on the floor but gave her a subtle nod.
"Fine," Claire said, stepping past Nathan. "You want me, Everett? Take me to the boat. Let's finish this where no one else can interfere."
