Chapter 7 - The Hostage
The absolute panic in the security contractor's voice echoed loudly through the sterile hospital room.
"What do you mean she is holding her own son hostage?" Arthur demanded, his protective instincts instantly taking over.
"She has completely lost her mind, sir," the security chief reported breathlessly over the crackling radio line.
"She poured gasoline all over the living room furniture, and she is threatening to burn the entire house to the ground."
"She is demanding that Mariana be brought to the house immediately, or she will execute Ryan."
I stared at the speakerphone in absolute horror, realizing Rebecca was completely unhinged and cornered like a wild animal.
She knew Arthur had bought the house, and she knew her massive, twenty-five-year deception was completely unraveling.
"Do not engage her, lock down the perimeter, and wait for the federal authorities," Arthur commanded ruthlessly.
Arthur ended the call and turned to me, his eyes entirely devoid of any mercy for the Montgomery family.
"You are not going anywhere near that psycho, Mariana," Arthur stated firmly, blocking the hospital door with his body.
"Ryan is the one who betrayed you, let his psychotic mother deal with him."
I looked at my biological parents, feeling a deep, profound conflict raging violently inside my chest.
Ryan had broken my heart, abandoned me for a younger woman, and completely destroyed our marriage.
He deserved to lose his job, his house, and his completely stolen wealth.
But he did not deserve to burn to death at the hands of his own deranged mother.
"I have to go, Arthur," I said quietly, my voice remarkably steady despite the sheer terror gripping my heart.
"If I do not go, she will kill him, and I will have that blood on my conscience for the rest of my life."
Eleanor grabbed my hand, pleading with me silently through her tear-filled, terrified eyes.
"I just got you back, my beautiful girl," Eleanor whispered desperately. "Please do not walk back into the fire."
I kissed her forehead gently, promising her I would return safely to her side.
Arthur saw the fierce, unyielding determination in my eyes, recognizing his own stubborn strength reflected perfectly back at him.
"If you go, I am going with you," Arthur declared, pulling a heavy, suppressed tactical pistol from his shoulder holster.
We rushed out of the hospital, climbed back into the massive SUV, and tore through the city streets with a police escort.
The upscale suburban street was completely barricaded by dozens of flashing police cruisers and armored SWAT vehicles.
The beautiful house I had lived in for eleven years was currently surrounded by heavily armed federal agents.
Arthur and I pushed through the police barricade, ignoring the furious shouting of the local police captain.
I stood on the front lawn, looking at the massive bay window of the master bedroom on the second floor.
Rebecca was standing in the window, pressing the cold barrel of a hunting rifle directly against Ryan's sweating temple.
"I brought Mariana, Rebecca!" Arthur shouted through a police megaphone, his voice booming like thunder across the lawn.
"Let the boy go, and surrender your weapon immediately!"
Rebecca smashed the glass window with the butt of her rifle, screaming hysterically down at us.
"I am not surrendering to anyone, Arthur!" Rebecca shrieked, her eyes completely wild with absolute madness.
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"I want Mariana to walk through the front door right now, completely alone and unarmed."
"If anyone tries to follow her, I will pull this trigger and end my worthless son's life!"
