Chapter 7 - The Hostage Trade
Marsha marched through the broken front door, completely ignoring the sheer destruction of my living room.
She held Mason's beloved stuffed turtle tightly in her manicured hands.
"I found the little brats hiding behind the neighborhood clubhouse," Marsha announced proudly.
My stomach dropped as I realized she had intercepted my terrified children.
"Where are they?" I screamed, lunging forward to attack her.
Victor easily grabbed my arm and shoved me roughly back against the kitchen counter.
Marsha smirked and tossed the stuffed turtle directly to Victor.
"They are securely locked in the trunk of my car, and they will stay there until I get my money," she stated coldly.
Evan finally stepped out from behind the ruined couch, staring at his mother in absolute horror.
"You locked Maddie and Mason in a car trunk?" Evan asked, his voice cracking with genuine disbelief.
"They are not my blood, Evan, and they are standing in the way of a twenty million dollar payout," Marsha snapped back.
Victor caught the toy turtle and forcefully ripped the plush fabric open with his bare hands.
A small, sleek titanium hard drive fell out of the stuffing and clattered onto the floor.
Victor picked it up, inspecting the complex microchips with a look of pure greed.
"You have done well, Marsha," Victor praised her, placing the priceless drive safely into his pocket.
"Now transfer the twenty million dollars into my offshore account, just like we agreed," Marsha demanded eagerly.
Victor chuckled darkly and raised his black handgun, aiming it squarely at Marsha's head.
"I am a criminal, Marsha, I do not pay for things I can simply take by force," Victor mocked her.
Marsha's arrogant smile vanished instantly, replaced by a pale mask of absolute terror.
"You signed a contract," she whispered, backing away slowly toward the door.
"Contracts are for civil courts, and we are currently standing in a crime scene," Victor replied smoothly.
He placed his finger firmly on the trigger, preparing to eliminate his greedy business partner.
Suddenly, Evan let out a primal, desperate roar and tackled Victor from the side.
The gun fired wildly into the ceiling, raining white plaster dust down upon us.
Evan managed to wrestle the weapon out of Victor's grip, driven by a sudden, desperate surge of protective adrenaline.
He stood up shakily, pointing the loaded gun directly at the dangerous crime boss.
"Give me the keys to your car, Mother," Evan demanded, his hands trembling violently around the weapon.
Marsha stared at her son, completely bewildered by his sudden act of defiance.
"Evan, put the gun down and let him shoot her," I pleaded, desperately wanting to rescue my children.
Evan did not look at me, nor did he look at the mother he was threatening.
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He slowly turned the barrel of the gun away from Victor and pointed it directly at my face.
"I am taking the drive and the kids, Sarah, because I need a bargaining chip to start a new life," Evan declared.
