Chapter 9 - The Standoff
Griffin immediately jumped to his feet, shielding Sloan with his own body.
An armed man wearing a dark mask stormed into the hospital room, holding a loaded pistol.
It was Victor's most loyal mercenary, sent to finish the job his boss had started.
"Victor sends his regards," the mercenary growled, aiming the weapon directly at Sloan.
Griffin didn't hesitate or look for a weapon of his own.
He lunged forward with terrifying speed, tackling the massive intruder directly into the wall.
The gun fired a single shot, the deafening sound echoing through the quiet hospital wing.
Griffin felt a sharp, burning pain slice through his left shoulder.
He ignored the agonizing wound and drove his fist brutally into the mercenary's jaw.
The masked man collapsed to the floor, completely unconscious before he even realized what hit him.
Hospital security rushed into the room seconds later, dragging the bleeding mercenary away.
Sloan screamed, scrambling out of her bed to press a towel against Griffin's bleeding shoulder.
"I am fine," Griffin smiled weakly, wincing as the nurses quickly bandaged the superficial gunshot wound.
The bullet had cleanly passed through his muscle, missing all vital arteries entirely.
The twins woke up from the loud noise, terrified until Griffin wrapped his good arm around them.
"The bad men are all gone now," Griffin promised them softly.
The police assured the family that Victor's entire criminal organization had been completely dismantled that night.
There were no more threats hiding in the shadows.
Sloan looked at Griffin, her eyes filled with immense love and endless gratitude.
"Yes," Sloan whispered, answering the proposal he had made just moments before the attack.
"I will marry you, Griffin Drake."
Griffin pulled her close, kissing her deeply as the first rays of morning sunlight broke through the hospital window.
May you like
The nightmare was finally over, and their real life was just beginning.
But as the lead doctor entered the room to check Griffin's wound, he carried a strange, heavy metal lockbox.
