Chapter 18 - Face to Face
The distinct, rhythmic chopping sound of helicopter blades began thundering in the distance.
The state police and federal tactical units were already responding to the open emergency broadcast.
David realized his private empire had completely collapsed in a matter of seconds.
Instead of fleeing, he raised his rifle and fired a continuous burst directly into the control tower glass.
The heavy glass shattered into a thousand razor-sharp shards, raining down around Olivia and me.
David kicked open the bent metal door, his suit covered in dust and his face twisted into an expression of pure, unadulterated madness.
"You ruined everything, Marcus!" David roared, leveling the rifle straight at my chest.
"Forty million dollars! Gone because of your pathetic moral crusade!"
Before he could pull the trigger, Olivia grabbed a heavy fire extinguisher from the wall and hurled it with all her strength.
The heavy steel canister struck David squarely in the shoulder, throwing off his aim.
The bullet tore harmlessly through the ceiling.
I lunged forward with everything I had left, tackling David through the shattered window frame.
We plummeted ten feet onto the roof of the shipping container below, crashing heavily onto the cold, corrugated metal.
The air exploded from my lungs, and white-hot pain flared through my ribs.
David rolled over, spitting blood, and pulled a tactical hunting knife from his combat boot.
He lunged at my throat with terrifying, psychotic strength.
I caught his wrist inches from my skin, fighting for my life against his furious momentum.
"You were supposed to die in that car crash four months ago, Marcus!" David hissed through clenched teeth.
"You were never supposed to survive!"
The sound of sirens began wailing outside the hangar walls, growing deafeningly loud.
"I survived your truck, David," I gritted out, twisting his wrist with every ounce of strength in my body.
"And I am going to survive you."
I drove my knee viciously into his groin, breaking his balance.
May you like
As he doubled over in agony, I wrenched the knife from his grip and struck him across the jaw with the heavy steel hilt.
David collapsed onto his back on the metal container, completely unconscious.
