Chapter 7 - The Sacrifice
Lorenzo tried to step forward, but his legs felt like they were made of heavy lead.
The room spun violently as the powerful sedative Clara had slipped into his drink took full effect.
"Why would you do this?" Lorenzo slurred, collapsing onto his knees on the cold stone floor.
Clara knelt beside him, gently resting her hand against his cheek.
"Because you were going to sacrifice your own mother to save us," Clara cried softly.
"I will not let you live with that guilt for the rest of your life."
She took the loaded pistol from his shoulder holster and tucked it into her own jacket.
Clara picked up a sleeping Rosie, wrapping the child tightly in the warm wool blanket.
"I am taking her to Marco to make the trade," Clara explained, her voice trembling but resolute.
Lorenzo tried to reach out and grab her arm, but his muscles completely refused to obey his commands.
He watched helplessly as the mother of his child walked out of the heavy basement doors.
Darkness completely overtook his vision, pulling him down into a deep, chemical sleep.
When Lorenzo finally forced his eyes open, the small basement window showed the pale light of early dawn.
The sedative was still sluggish in his veins, but pure adrenaline forced him to stand up.
He checked his gold wristwatch and realized three excruciating hours had already passed.
He had missed the deadline.
Lorenzo stumbled out of the church, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
He stole a delivery truck from the corner bakery and sped recklessly toward the central shipping pier.
The docks were eerily quiet, shrouded in a thick, rolling morning fog.
He found Clara kneeling on the wet wooden planks of the pier, clutching Rosie tightly to her chest.
Marco was standing ten feet away, pointing a silver revolver directly at Clara's head.
Lorenzo reached for his weapon, only to remember Clara had taken it to protect herself.
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Marco cocked the hammer of the gun, smiling as he prepared to pull the trigger.
Suddenly, a high-caliber sniper bullet tore through the air and completely shattered Marco's wrist.
