Chapter 9 - The Rescue
Flames licked the edges of the ruined white tent as the structure collapsed.
Alexander scrambled through the debris, coughing violently from the thick smoke.
"Lily!" he roared, his voice tearing raw against the heat.
He found Elena on her knees, digging frantically through burning canvas.
"He took her, Alexander," Elena sobbed, her hands covered in dark soot.
"Kael took her into the woods," she choked out in despair.
Alexander pulled his wife to her feet and grabbed a discarded rifle from the ground.
His billionaire facade was completely gone, replaced by pure, lethal rage.
"We are getting our daughter back right now," Alexander promised fiercely.
They ran out of the burning tent and sprinted toward the dark tree line.
Alexander's earpiece crackled to life with a transmission from his backup team.
"Sir, thermal drones show one hostile moving north toward the river," the guard reported.
"Lock down the riverbanks and shoot to kill," Alexander commanded coldly.
Elena ran beside him, her wedding dress torn and ruined.
She navigated the dark woods with the practiced ease of a trained assassin.
They reached a steep cliff overlooking the rushing black water of the river.
Kael was standing at the edge, holding a terrified Lily tightly against his chest.
A sleek black speedboat was waiting for him at the bottom of the cliff.
"Let her go, Kael!" Elena screamed, aiming a stolen pistol at her own brother.
Kael turned around, his scarred face illuminated by the moonlight.
"She belongs with her real family," Kael yelled over the sound of the wind.
Alexander raised his rifle and aimed directly at Kael's head.
"You have three seconds to put my daughter down," Alexander warned with deadly calm.
"One," Alexander began counting loudly.
Kael sneered and took a step closer to the dangerous edge.
"Two," Alexander said, his finger tightening perfectly on the trigger.
Kael suddenly realized the billionaire was not bluffing.
Before Alexander could say three, Kael threw Lily forcefully onto the soft moss.
He instantly dove backward off the high cliff into the freezing river below.
Alexander lunged forward and grabbed Lily, holding her tight against his beating heart.
Elena dropped her weapon and wrapped her arms around both of them.
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They collapsed onto the forest floor as a united, unbreakable family.
Suddenly, a bright red laser dot appeared directly on the center of Elena's forehead.
