Chapter 8 - The Ultimate Sacrifice
Julian froze perfectly still, his finger slowly easing off the hair-trigger of his pistol.
The emergency backup lights flickered to life, bathing the ruined office in an eerie, dim crimson glow.
Bennett was leaning heavily against a shattered mahogany desk, his bleeding leg wrapped tightly in a makeshift tourniquet.
Three heavily armed mercenaries stood rigidly beside him, their weapons aimed directly at Julian's small family.
"Slide the USB drive across the floor right now, or the mother dies first," Bennett demanded ruthlessly.
Julian slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the small black drive.
He knew that the absolute second Bennett got the ledger, they would all be slaughtered without hesitation.
Julian looked at Camille, silently begging her to stay completely behind his protective frame.
"Take it," Julian said, tossing the small drive onto the carpet halfway between them.
One of the mercenaries eagerly stepped forward and bent down to retrieve the billions of dollars.
Rex let out a terrifying, guttural roar that shook the very foundation of the room.
The loyal dog launched himself forward with blinding speed, ignoring the guns entirely.
He leaped over the fallen drive and clamped his massive jaws directly onto the mercenary's throat.
The mercenary screamed wildly and wildly pulled the trigger of his assault rifle in pure panic.
A deafening burst of automatic gunfire tore recklessly through the dim room.
Julian instantly raised his weapon and shot the remaining two guards squarely in the chest.
Bennett cursed violently and aimed his rifle directly at the little girl cowering behind her mother.
Rex released his dead prey and threw his bleeding body directly into the path of Bennett's bullet.
The dog let out a sharp, agonizing yelp as the heavy caliber round struck his side, dropping him heavily to the floor.
Julian roared in pure, unadulterated fury and fired his last bullet directly into Bennett's shoulder.
Bennett dropped his rifle and collapsed backward, screaming in agony as his blood pooled on the expensive rug.
Julian rushed forward and kicked the fallen rifle far across the room.
He stood directly over the traitor, aiming his empty gun at Bennett's head just to keep him pinned.
Camille completely ignored the bleeding men and threw herself onto the floor next to the injured dog.
"He's losing too much blood, Julian!" Camille cried out, pressing her hands desperately against the dog's terrible wound.
Bennett suddenly started laughing, a wet, horrifying sound bubbling up from his throat.
May you like
He raised his uninjured hand, revealing a small, blinking detonator clutched tightly in his bloody palm.
"If my heart stops, the C4 packed under the floorboards takes the whole estate down," Bennett gasped with a sickening smile.
