Chapter 9 - The Final Chase
Olivia let out a piercing, terrified scream as Marcus dragged her violently through the thick snow.
My heart stopped completely, a primal, violent rage instantly replacing the calm demeanor I had maintained all morning.
"Let her go!" I screamed, sprinting out the front door without even grabbing my coat.
The police officers drew their weapons, shouting conflicting commands into the freezing mountain air.
Marcus was stumbling, his expensive leather loafers completely useless in the deep, slippery snowdrifts.
He was desperately trying to reach my helicopter, insanely hoping he could somehow hijack it and escape the federal charges.
"Start the rotors!" Marcus yelled wildly at the bewildered pilot sitting in the cockpit.
"I will kill her! I swear I will kill her!"
He held Olivia tightly against his chest, his forearm pressing dangerously close to her small throat.
Vance was right behind me, his massive frame tearing through the snow like a freight train.
But I held up my hand, signaling for my security chief to stop and hold the police back.
I knew Marcus better than anyone else in the world; I knew his cowardice, his weakness, and his absolute lack of spine.
I slowed my pace and walked deliberately toward him, my expensive heels crunching loudly in the snow.
"Look at yourself, Marcus," I shouted over the howling wind, my voice echoing with absolute authority.
"You are shivering, you are crying, and you are using an eight-year-old girl as a human shield because you are terrified of facing the consequences of your own actions."
Marcus backed up until his spine hit the cold metal of the helicopter's landing skid.
"Stay back, Kesha!" he sobbed, his grip slightly loosening on Olivia as his energy drained away in the freezing cold.
"I just wanted a normal life! You ruined everything!"
I stopped ten feet away from him, locking my eyes entirely on my crying, terrified daughter.
"Olivia, sweetie, remember what we practice during our self-defense classes?" I asked her calmly, using my gentle, maternal voice.
Olivia sniffled, her intelligent eyes darting from my face to the arm wrapped around her chest.
Marcus looked confused, completely unaware of the extensive martial arts training I provided for my children.
"Do it now, baby," I commanded sharply.
Instantly, Olivia stomped her heavy, reinforced winter boot directly onto Marcus's unprotected instep with all her might.
As he gasped in sudden pain and loosened his grip, she viciously drove her small elbow straight back into his ribs.
Marcus wheezed, his arms flying open as all the air was completely forced from his lungs.
Olivia dropped to the snow, quickly rolling away from him just as we had practiced a hundred times in the gym.
Before Marcus could even catch his breath, Vance was on him, driving the pathetic man face-first into the freezing snow with a bone-crunching thud.
The police officers rushed forward, quickly locking heavy steel handcuffs onto Marcus's wrists and dragging his limp body upward.
I didn't even look at him as I scooped Olivia into my arms, burying my face in her cold neck and breathing in the scent of her hair.
"You did perfectly, my brave girl," I whispered, tears of absolute relief finally falling down my cheeks.
Marcus was dragged past us, crying loudly like a beaten child, begging his father for help.
Richard stood on the porch, his face completely devoid of emotion as he watched his only son being shoved into the back of a police cruiser.
The flashing lights slowly faded down the mountain road, taking the darkest chapter of my life away forever.
I carried Olivia back into the warmth of the mansion, surrounded by my other three children who cheered for their sister.
The nightmare was finally over, and it was time to go home.
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"Mrs. Sterling," Officer Davis called out, standing awkwardly near the front door holding a plastic evidence bag.
"We found this dropped in the snow near the helicopter; we believe it fell out of the suspect's pocket during the struggle."
