Chapter 9 - The Ultimate Sacrifice
The loud crash of the breaking door froze everyone in the room.
Dozens of bright, blinding tactical laser sights pierced the darkness outside, aiming directly through the cabin windows.
"State Police, drop your weapons and get on the ground immediately!" a booming voice echoed through a megaphone.
I had secretly dialed 911 on my Apple Watch the absolute second Mark had turned on the cabin lights.
The mercenaries looked at Mark, waiting for a command, but they quickly realized they were hopelessly outgunned.
One by one, the hired thugs dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender.
But Mark did not drop his tranquilizer gun.
His eyes were completely wild with the terrifying realization that he was about to lose everything.
"If I don't take him back right now, my boys are going to die!" Mark screamed hysterically.
He shifted his aim away from Rowan's neck and pointed the weapon directly at Rowan's chest.
He was going to shoot Rowan and try to drag his unconscious body out through the back door.
"No!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs.
With a massive surge of adrenaline, I violently threw my weight backward, breaking the shocked mercenary's grip on my arms.
I threw myself directly into the path of the weapon just as Mark pulled the trigger.
I heard the sharp, compressed hiss of the tranquilizer dart firing.
A blinding, burning pain erupted in the side of my neck as the heavy dart pierced my skin.
The highly concentrated, military-grade sedative flooded my bloodstream almost instantly.
I collapsed heavily onto the wooden floor, my vision blurring rapidly as the world began to spin.
Through the fading light, I saw the police storm the room, tackling Mark violently to the ground.
Rowan dropped to his knees beside me, his beautiful face twisted in pure agony as he grabbed my hand.
"Mom, please stay awake, please don't leave me!" he cried, his tears falling onto my cheek.
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"I love you, my sweet boy," I whispered weakly, my voice barely audible.
The heavy, suffocating darkness completely swallowed me, and I closed my eyes, fully believing I was taking my final breath.
