Chapter 11 - The Impossible Choice
Arthur Vance shoved Marcus toward the gangplank leading down to the private yacht. The bodyguards laid down a heavy suppressing volley of automatic gunfire, forcing Julian to dive behind a stack of rusted steel shipping containers.
Julian leaned against the cold steel, his breathing ragged. He had only one magazine left. He looked toward the shoreline road where he had left Lily locked safely inside the secondary car, watching the pier through tinted windows. If he pursued Marcus and Arthur, he could ensure they faced justice for destroying his life. He could avenge five years of lies.
But across the churning black water, the red lights on the industrial barge were flashing faster. Elena was out there, trapped in a sinking metal tomb rigged with explosives.
Julian looked over at Clara, who was crawling toward him, her white gown ruined with grease and blood.
"Take the phone," Julian commanded, shoving his encrypted burner into her hands. "Lily is in the black sedan parked behind the warehouse on 5th Street. If you leave her, if you run, I swear I will hunt you to the ends of the earth."
Clara looked at him, her eyes wide with shock and guilt. She nodded rapidly, clutching the phone to her chest. "I'll protect her, Julian. I swear it on my life. Take the zodiac boat tied under the south dock—it has a high-output motor."
Julian didn't offer a word of thanks. He bolted toward the south edge of the pier, diving off the wooden edge into the frigid harbor waters, swimming directly toward the moored black inflatable boat.
May you like
Behind him, Arthur’s yacht roared to life, cutting through the swells toward the open ocean, leaving Julian completely alone against the rising tide.
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