Chapter 14 - The Final Betrayal
The gunshot echoed across the empty highway, followed by the screech of tires as the black sedan slammed into reverse, abandoning Elena in the middle of the gravel road. The vehicle fishtailed wildly before tearing off down the dark highway, its taillights vanishing into the misty night in a matter of seconds.
Elena lay crumpled on the stones, clutching her bleeding shoulder and gasping for breath as tears mingled with the dirt on her face. "They... they left me... after everything I did for them..." she choked out, staring in absolute disbelief at the empty stretch of road where the car had just disappeared.
Jax didn't look down at her. He scooped Sarah back up into his arms, checking her pulse once more with a wave of profound relief washing over him as he felt a steady, strengthening beat.
"Can you walk, Sarah?" Jax asked gently.
"I... I think so," Sarah whispered, her eyes finally clear of the carbon monoxide haze as she leaned against his shoulder for support.
Lily walked beside them, tightly holding onto Jax’s belt loop as they approached the low section of the perimeter fence where the metal had been pried open by previous maintenance crews. In the distance, the wail of approaching sirens finally cut through the night air—flashing red and blue lights painting the horizon as state troopers and ambulances raced toward the burning estate.
"Look, Jax! The police are here!" Lily cried, pointing a small finger toward the flashing lights on the highway.
Jax pushed the bent section of the iron fence wide open, stepping through onto the safety of the paved road just as the lead police cruiser screeched to a halt in front of them. Multiple officers spilled out of the vehicles, weapons drawn, shouting commands before spotting Jax holding Sarah and the little girl in the pink dress.
"Hold your fire! Over here! We need a medic right now!" Jax shouted, raising his free hand to show he was unarmed.
Officers rushed forward, securing the perimeter and immediately calling for medical assistance as paramedics swarmed Sarah with oxygen masks and stretchers. Elena was hauled to her feet by two troopers near the gate, weeping hysterically as the cold steel handcuffs clicked tightly around her wrists.
As Sarah was carefully lifted onto the gurney, she reached out and grabbed Jax’s hand, a faint, genuine smile touching her lips for the first time that night.
"You did it, Jax. We're safe," she whispered just before the oxygen mask was placed over her face.
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Jax stood by the ambulance door, watching them load her inside, when a heavy, cold weight pressed suddenly against the back of his neck, followed by the sharp click of a weapon's safety being switched off.
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