Chapter 9 - The Darkest Hour
Julian twisted his body at the last possible second, avoiding a fatal blow to the heart.
The combat knife sliced deeply through his shoulder muscle, sending a jolt of agonizing pain down his arm.
He roared in defiance, gripping Victor's wrist and twisting it until the bone audibly snapped.
Victor dropped the bloody knife, screaming in agony as he lost his balance on the wet concrete.
Julian grabbed him by the expensive silk tie, hauling him back from the deadly edge of the broken bridge.
He threw the corrupt manager violently onto the ground just as the SWAT team swarmed the area.
Dozens of heavily armed police officers aimed their rifles at Victor, ordering him to stay completely still.
Julian stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding shoulder as the adrenaline slowly began to fade.
Elena rushed to his side, wrapping her arm around his waist to keep him from collapsing onto the asphalt.
Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene with a stretcher, rushing immediately to little Leo.
They loaded the sick child into an emergency transport helicopter that had landed on the safe side of the bridge.
Julian and Elena climbed into the back of the helicopter, refusing to leave their son's side for even a second.
The chopper lifted off into the stormy night sky, rushing them toward the city's most secure public hospital.
During the flight, the lead paramedic checked Julian's vitals and confirmed he was still healthy enough for the transplant.
Julian smiled weakly at Elena, finally feeling a profound sense of hope washing over him.
They landed on the hospital roof, where a team of top-tier surgeons was already waiting for them.
They rushed Leo into the sterile, brightly lit operating room, preparing for the intense, life-saving procedure.
Julian was taken to an adjacent room to be prepped for the surgical extraction.
He lay on the cold operating table, counting backward from ten as the heavy anesthesia finally took hold.
Just before his eyes fully closed, the lead surgeon leaned over him and slowly pulled down his medical mask.
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The surgeon smiled a twisted, terrifying smile that Julian recognized immediately.
It was the same corrupt doctor Victor had paid off seven years ago to fake the baby's death.
