Chapter 10 - The Burner Phone
Elena pulled the trigger without a second of hesitation.
Titan lunged out the broken window in a blur of black fury.
The bullet grazed the dog's shoulder, but the mastiff's momentum carried him directly into Elena.
She screamed as the massive animal pinned her to the concrete, knocking the gun from her hand.
Clara scrambled out of the car, grabbed the discarded weapon, and aimed it at the traitorous wife.
"Call him off," Elena begged, terrified of the jaws snapping inches from her face.
Adrian stumbled out of the passenger side, clutching his bleeding throat.
He gave a sharp whistle, and Titan immediately backed away, sitting loyally at his master's feet.
Adrian looked down at his wife with a mixture of sorrow and absolute disgust.
He used the butt of the heavy revolver to strike her temple, knocking her out cold.
The immediate threat was finally over.
They had survived the assassination, the betrayal, and the chase.
Adrian slumped against the hood of the car, stroking Titan's head with a bloody hand.
He looked at Clara, his eyes filled with a profound, undeniable trust.
"You are the only person left in this world I can rely on," he rasped through the tube.
Clara smiled warmly and handed him a clean towel to compress his wound.
She walked a few paces away toward the edge of the lot, pretending to check the perimeter.
When she was sure Adrian could not see her hands, she pulled a small burner phone from her pocket.
Her thumbs moved quickly over the glowing keypad.
"Phase one complete, the target trusts me completely."
May you like
She hit send, her warm smile vanishing into the cold night air.
"Send the cleaner to finish him."
