Chapter 10 - The Federal Trap
"You think you are in control, Viktor?" I asked, my voice echoing calmly through the silent diner.
Garrick frowned, his arrogant smile faltering slightly at the sound of his real, hidden name.
He tightened his grip on the weapon, refusing to let my confidence undermine his power.
"I hold the gun, Sarah, which means I hold the power," he sneered, preparing to squeeze the trigger.
"You don't hold anything," I replied softly.
I took one step to the side, revealing the massive, heavily armored tactical team standing silently in the shadows behind me.
These were not local police officers; this was the elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team, completely loyal to me, not Ethan.
Over twenty red laser sights suddenly pierced the darkness, painting Garrick's chest, arms, and head in crimson light.
Garrick’s eyes widened in absolute, paralyzing terror as he realized he was completely outgunned.
He knew if his finger even twitched, he would be cut down by a hail of federal bullets.
Slowly, his hands began to shake, and the heavy handgun slipped from his fingers, clattering loudly onto the diner floor.
Federal agents swarmed him immediately, slamming him brutally against the counter and securing him in heavy steel cuffs.
I rushed forward and wrapped my arms tightly around my mother, sobbing tears of pure relief into her shoulder.
She squeezed me back just as fiercely, the terrible nightmare of her abusive marriage finally brought to an end.
Garrick was hauled away to a black site prison, and Ethan was arrested at the warehouse shortly after.
We were finally safe, the syndicate was dismantled, and our beautiful, quiet life could begin again.
Months later, my mother and I were sitting peacefully on the porch of our heavily guarded new home.
I went to the mailbox to grab the daily newspaper and found a strange, unmarked black envelope resting inside.
May you like
I opened the wax seal and pulled out a faded, terrifying photograph of my father's car crash from years ago.
Written across the back of the photograph in fresh, blood-red ink were the words: "Garrick was just a pawn, and your father's death was not an accident."
