Chapter 14 - The Final Gamble
The sight of his infant son dangling dangerously over the open cabin stairs sent a surge of pure, primal terror through Victor’s veins, instantly overriding every corporate strategy and legal protocol he had ever mastered. The wind whipped wildly around them, making the helicopter's chassis groan as the override countdown timer ticked down on the hangar's main digital display.
"Don't do it, Julian," Victor commanded, lowering his weapon an inch as a universal signal of tactical surrender. "Name your terms. The shares are yours. Just hand the boy to me."
Julian smiled, a triumphant, manic glint in his eyes as he stepped back down onto the metal landing. He held the baby securely against his chest once more, pulling the child away from the edge. "Smart choice, brother. Hand over your encrypted master terminal, and let's sign the paperwork right here in the floodlights."
Victor slowly slid his hand into his inner pocket, pulling out his secure corporate smartphone. He didn't look at the screen; his dark eyes never left Julian’s face. He began walking forward at a slow, measured pace, keeping his hands visible to prove he posed no immediate physical threat.
"Closer," Julian warned, holding his other hand out to receive the device. "And drop your sidearm on the tarmac."
Victor unclipped his holster, letting the heavy firearm drop to the wet concrete with a dull thud. He continued walking until he was standing just ten feet away from the bottom of the helicopter stairs. Up close, he could hear the soft, rhythmic breathing of his sleeping son against Julian’s chest—a stark contrast to the ugly malice driving the man holding him.
"Now, Victor. Transfer the voting rights," Julian demanded, extending the manila folder in his left hand while keeping his right arm firmly around the baby.
Victor didn't reach for the folder. Instead, a cold, calculated smirk touched the corners of his mouth—a look that made Julian’s triumphant expression instantly falter.
"You forgot one critical detail about the Sterling master terminal, Julian," Victor said softly, his voice dropping into an arctic register. "It has a proximity-triggered biometric kill-switch linked directly to my heartbeat."
May you like
Before Julian could react, the heavy red override light on the helicopter dashboard suddenly turned a solid, unforgiving emerald green as the hangar doors behind them slammed shut and locked automatically with a deafening metallic thud.
---
