Chapter 6 - The Blood Traitor
Adrian screamed and lunged forward, throwing his body violently against his son just as the sniper fired.
The high-caliber bullet tore through the fabric of Adrian's coat, missing Noah's head by a fraction of an inch.
They crashed hard onto the concrete floor, surrounded by a shower of sparks from the ricocheting round.
Noah dropped his pistol in absolute shock, finally realizing that Victor's men were actively trying to kill him.
Claire stepped out from behind the concrete pillar, stepping fully into the flickering light of the flames.
Noah stared at her, tears instantly welling in his eyes as he recognized the beautiful face from his earliest, fragmented memories.
He whispered the word 'Mom' with a voice so fragile it completely shattered Adrian's heart.
Claire smiled warmly, tears streaming down her own face, but she did not let her guard down.
She raised her weapon and laid down a fierce blanket of covering fire toward the catwalk above.
A group of Victor's mercenaries returned fire, pinning the reunited family behind a stack of steel shipping crates.
Adrian grabbed Noah's shoulders, looking deep into his terrified eyes and promising they would get out of this alive.
He asked Noah where they had hidden Lily before the massive explosion tore the building apart.
Noah quickly explained that he had cut Lily loose and hidden her inside a reinforced drainage pipe near the loading dock.
He had caused the explosion himself by shooting a fuel barrel to distract the guards and protect the little girl.
Adrian swelled with an overwhelming sense of pride, realizing his son was a brilliant, courageous survivor.
Victor Sterling suddenly appeared on the high metal catwalk, safely surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards.
He looked down at the ruined floor, his face twisted in absolute disgust as he saw the family united.
Victor grabbed a heavy megaphone, his voice booming over the roar of the surrounding fires.
He mocked Adrian, declaring that the emotional reunion was completely pointless because nobody was leaving the pier alive.
Victor pulled a sophisticated electronic detonator from his pristine suit jacket and held it high in the air.
He announced that the entire foundation of the pier was rigged with military-grade plastic explosives.
He intended to sink the entire facility into the dark, freezing waters of the harbor, burying his secrets forever.
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Victor laughed sadistically and pressed his thumb down hard on the glowing red trigger.
The concrete floor beneath Adrian's feet violently heaved upward with a deafening, catastrophic roar.
