Chapter 9 - Surrounded in the Woods
Julian stepped out from behind a thick oak tree, flanked by two burly men in black tactical gear holding high-powered rifles. Behind them, stepping gingerly over the mud in her designer boots, was Clara, holding a black umbrella and smiling like a cat that had caught a particularly desperate mouse.
"Drop the bag, Maya," Julian said, his voice entirely devoid of any human emotion. "And you, stranger—turn around slowly and put your hands where I can see them."
David stood up smoothly, placing himself protectively in front of Maya. He didn't look scared; if anything, his eyes narrowed with a cold, calculated fury that matched Julian’s.
"Julian," David said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You always were a parasite, latching onto other people’s success and bleeding them dry."
Julian’s face twisted in sudden recognition, his eyes widening slightly as he looked at David’s face, then down at Maya’s red hair.
"You," Julian breathed, his voice tightening. "David Miller. You were supposed to be dead. Twenty years ago, we made sure you skipped the country for good."
"Surprise," David muttered, his hand dropping slowly toward his jacket pocket. "Some roaches are harder to exterminate than you think."
"Kill them both," Clara commanded impatiently, stepping back to avoid getting mud on her trousers. "Make it look like a tragic hiking accident. The police in this county report to us, remember?"
The two guards raised their rifles, clicking off the safeties with a synchronized clack that echoed ominously through the damp woods. Maya’s heart hammered against her ribs; she knew they had less than three seconds before the first shot was fired.
May you like
Without warning, David lunged sideways, tackling Maya to the muddy ground just as the first gunshot shattered the quiet night, burying a bullet deep into the bark of the tree inches above their heads.
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