Chapter 10 - The False Victory
As Richard's finger tightened on the trigger, the tablet in his hand suddenly sparked violently.
I had not transferred the decryption keys.
I had uploaded a military-grade localized EMP virus.
The tablet exploded in a shower of sparks, burning Richard's hand and causing him to drop his weapon.
I lunged forward, closing the distance in a fraction of a second.
I drove my fist deeply into his stomach, dropping him to his knees in agonizing pain.
I grabbed his dropped pistol, spun around, and fired twice, neutralizing the two mercenaries running toward us.
Richard gasped for air on the ground, completely defeated and bleeding from his burned hand.
I pulled out a pair of heavy zip-ties and secured his wrists tightly behind his back.
The sound of heavy helicopter rotors suddenly filled the night sky above us.
My real extraction team, summoned by a delayed protocol in my black case, had finally arrived.
They repelled down from the chopper, heavily armed and securing the perimeter immediately.
I stood up, breathing heavily, feeling a massive wave of relief wash over my tired body.
I had beaten Richard, dismantled his corrupt empire, and finally secured my daughter's safety.
I turned around to hug Lily, ready to tell her that the nightmare was finally over.
But Lily was not crying anymore, and she was not reaching out to embrace me.
She stood perfectly still in the gravel, having calmly wiped the fake tears from her face.
She reached into her coat, pulled out a suppressed pistol of her own, and aimed it directly at my chest.
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"You really shouldn't have come back, Dad," she whispered, her eyes completely cold and devoid of love.
"Richard was working for me."
