Chapter 8 - The Detonator
The sniper on the catwalk immediately fired a warning shot that sparked against the metal floor near Julian's feet.
"Do not move another inch!" the sniper roared from above.
Julian did not even flinch at the sound of the gunshot.
He just kept his thumb hovering dangerously over the red plastic button.
"If that sniper shoots me, my thumb slips, and we all die together in a massive fireball," Julian laughed.
My entire body trembled as I held the children tightly against my chest.
We were trapped in a giant metal cage with a madman who had absolutely nothing left to lose.
Nathaniel slowly held up both of his hands in a calming gesture.
"Julian, think about what you are doing," Nathaniel pleaded, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You have billions of dollars hidden in offshore accounts, you can just walk away from this."
Julian shook his head, his eyes burning with years of bitter jealousy and hatred.
"I was always the second best, always living in your perfect shadow," Julian spat angrily.
He looked directly at his young nephew hiding behind my legs.
"I am not going to spend the rest of my life in a federal prison while you get to play happy family," Julian declared.
He began to press down on the detonator button.
I closed my eyes and buried my face into Sophia's shoulder, waiting for the devastating blast.
A loud, wet thud echoed through the warehouse, followed by a scream of absolute agony.
I opened my eyes and saw Julian collapse to the floor, dropping the remote control.
A massive black German Shepherd had just launched itself out from behind the shipping containers.
The highly trained security dog had its jaws clamped firmly around Julian's wrist, crushing the bones instantly.
The remote control skittered across the concrete floor and stopped safely near Nathaniel's boots.
Nathaniel quickly stomped his heavy heel down onto the plastic device, crushing it into pieces.
The massive metal doors of the warehouse suddenly crashed open in a shower of sparks.
Dozens of armed tactical police officers flooded into the building with their weapons drawn.
"Get on the ground!" the lead officer screamed at Julian, who was still screaming in pain from the dog bite.
The nightmare was finally coming to an end.
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But as the police dragged Julian away in handcuffs, he looked back at Nathaniel with a bloody smile.
"I was not the only one in the car with Evelyn that day," Julian shouted over the sirens.
