Chapter 6 - Blood And Water
Elias stared at the ghost of his son in absolute disbelief.
Julian walked slowly toward them, his boots crunching loudly on the dead leaves.
"You faked your own death," Elias said, his voice laced with disgust.
Julian shrugged casually.
"It was the only way to escape your suffocating shadow and build my own legacy."
Anna struggled against Elias's grip, her eyes locked onto Julian with pure hatred.
"You promised we would rule the city together, Julian," she spat angrily.
Elias looked between the two of them, the pieces of the puzzle finally falling into place.
Julian and Anna had conspired together to unite the two warring families.
But there was no honor among thieves.
"I needed you to smuggle the boy into his house to bypass the security," Julian sneered at Anna.
"Now that the gates are open, I no longer need your services."
Julian raised his rifle, aiming it squarely at Anna's chest.
Elias did not have time to think about the betrayal he had just suffered.
His protective instincts took over entirely.
He shoved Anna hard to the ground just as Julian pulled the trigger.
The bullet grazed Elias's shoulder, tearing through his expensive suit jacket.
Elias ignored the burning pain and returned fire with Anna's pistol.
Julian was forced to dive behind a thick tree trunk for cover.
"Take the baby and run," Elias shouted at Anna.
Anna hesitated for a fraction of a second before grabbing the stroller.
She realized her only chance of survival was trusting the man she had sworn to destroy.
She sprinted desperately toward the deeper, darker part of the woods.
Julian roared in anger and stepped out to shoot her in the back.
Elias fired twice, forcing his son to retreat once again.
The woods suddenly erupted with the sound of approaching sirens and barking dogs.
Elias's loyal backup forces had finally breached the compromised estate.
Julian cursed loudly, realizing he was severely outnumbered.
He tossed a smoke grenade into the clearing.
By the time the thick gray smoke cleared, the helicopter was already lifting off the ground.
Elias lowered his weapon, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
He heard a piercing scream echo from the direction Anna had run.
He rushed through the trees, ignoring his injury.
He found Anna lying on the ground, bleeding from a severe head wound.
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The baby stroller was tipped over and completely empty.
Julian had not fled in the helicopter; he had circled back and stolen the child.
