Chapter 9 - The Deadly Ultimatum

The live video on my phone proved that my mother's private army had completely surrounded the clinic.

"You have exactly two minutes to walk out the front door and hand over the original drive," my mother commanded through the phone.

"If you try to upload those files or call for backup, they will detonate the explosives and bury you all alive."

I looked over at Mark, who was desperately trying to speed up the slow FBI file transfer on his laptop.

I knew that if I gave her the drive, she would simply order her men to execute us anyway to tie up loose ends.

But if I stayed inside, the explosives would instantly kill me, Mark, and my fragile little girl sleeping in the next room.

"I am coming out right now," I said calmly, hanging up the phone and grabbing the original USB drive.

I turned to Mark and whispered strict instructions to keep uploading the files no matter what he heard outside.

I walked slowly toward the heavy metal front door of the clinic, taking a deep, shaky breath before pulling the deadbolt.

I stepped out into the freezing rain and was immediately blinded by the bright tactical flashlights of six armed mercenaries.

A luxurious black SUV pulled up to the curb, and my mother stepped out under the cover of a massive umbrella.

"Hand over the drive, Clara, and I might let your little veterinarian friend live," my mother smiled wickedly.

I slowly raised my hand and tossed the metal USB drive directly into a deep, rushing storm drain beside the road.

My mother's smug smile instantly vanished, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated rage.

"You stupid, arrogant girl!" she screamed, pointing her finger directly at my chest.

"Kill her right now and burn the building to the ground!" she ordered her heavily armed men.

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The mercenaries immediately raised their automatic rifles, preparing to execute me right there in the rain.

But before a single shot could be fired, the deafening sound of a police helicopter roared directly overhead, blinding the mercenaries with a massive spotlight.