Chương 8 - The Edge of the Cliff
The cold wind whipped across the roof, carrying the smell of rain and saltwater from the jagged cliffs below.
Damian stood perfectly still, his Glock raised, the red dot sight hovering exactly over the center of Ivan's chest.
He didn't look at the five heavily armed soldiers aiming rifles at his head. He only looked at the man holding his mother over the abyss.
"Let her go, Ivan," Damian demanded, his voice carrying clearly over the howling wind. "This is between you and me. The old woman has nothing to do with it."
Ivan laughed, a sharp, manic sound that made Tessa’s stomach turn.
He yanked Beatrice closer to the edge, making the frail woman cry out in terror.
"She has everything to do with it!" Ivan yelled, his eyes wild. "You took my territory, Costa! You embarrassed my father! I’m not just going to kill you; I’m going to break you first."
Ivan looked past Damian and locked his eyes on Tessa.
A cruel, possessive smile stretched across his face.
"And you brought my little bird back to me," Ivan purred. "Come here, Tessa. Walk to me, and I’ll pull the old lady back onto solid ground."
Damian extended his left arm, physically blocking Tessa from moving forward.
"Don't take another step," Damian whispered to her.
"He's going to drop her, Damian," Tessa whispered back, her voice shaking violently. "I have to go."
"If you go to him, he kills you both," Damian replied, his analytical mind calculating angles and distances with cold precision.
He needed the soldiers to lower their weapons, even for a fraction of a second.
Damian slowly lowered his gun, holding it loosely by his side.
"Alright, Ivan," Damian called out, adopting a tone of calculated defeat. "You win. I’ll make the trade."
Ivan’s smile widened, triumphant and arrogant.
He gestured to his soldiers with a slight nod of his head. "Hold your fire until I have the girl."
Damian stepped aside, creating a clear path between Tessa and the monstrous Russian.
Tessa took a deep, shuddering breath and began to walk slowly across the concrete roof.
Her eyes were fixed on Beatrice, who was weeping silently, completely confused by the violence surrounding her.
"That's a good girl," Ivan mocked, stepping slightly away from the ledge, pulling Beatrice with him to make room for Tessa.
Tessa closed the distance, stopping exactly five feet away from Ivan.
"Let her go," Tessa demanded, her voice surprisingly strong.
Ivan chuckled, reaching out with his free hand to grab Tessa's wrist.
In that singular moment, Ivan’s focus shifted entirely to Tessa.
It was exactly what Damian had been waiting for.
Damian moved with a speed that defied human logic.
He raised his weapon and fired three suppressed shots in rapid succession.
The first two bullets struck the two soldiers standing closest to Ivan, dropping them instantly.
The third bullet shattered Ivan’s kneecap.
Ivan screamed in absolute agony, his leg buckling beneath him.
His grip on Beatrice loosened entirely as he collapsed backward toward the edge of the roof.
Tessa lunged forward, grabbing Beatrice by the fabric of her nightgown, using all her weight to yank the frail woman backward onto the safety of the concrete.
The remaining three Volkov soldiers immediately opened fire, their assault rifles lighting up the dark roof.
Damian dove behind a heavy steel ventilation unit, returning fire with lethal accuracy, dropping a third man.
Tessa covered Beatrice’s body with her own, screaming as bullets ricocheted off the concrete inches from her head.
Suddenly, the roof access door burst open again.
Paul and the Costa security team flooded onto the roof, laying down a devastating wall of suppressive fire.
The last two Volkov soldiers were cut down in seconds, their bodies falling lifelessly to the ground.
The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the wind and Ivan’s agonizing groans.
Ivan was lying near the ledge, clutching his shattered knee, his white suit soaked in dark blood.
Damian walked slowly out from behind the ventilation unit, his face an emotionless mask of pure vengeance.
He stood over Ivan, aiming the Glock directly at the Russian's head.
"You should have stayed in your own territory," Damian said coldly.
Ivan coughed up blood, a defiant, bloody smile still clinging to his face.
"Kill me," Ivan spat. "My father will burn your empire to ashes."
Damian tilted his head slightly.
"I’m counting on it."
Damian pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed over the ocean, and Ivan Volkov lay completely still.
Damian turned away, holstering his weapon, and rushed over to Tessa and Beatrice.
Tessa was shaking violently, clutching the old woman tightly in her arms.
Damian dropped to his knees, his hands hovering over them, a look of profound relief washing over his sharp features.
"Are you hurt?" Damian asked, his voice softer than Tessa had ever heard it.
Tessa shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
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"She’s safe," Tessa whispered. "I have her."
Damian closed his eyes, the monster finally receding, leaving only the man behind.
