Chapter 13 - The Final Confrontation
Julian burst out of the coal chute into the crisp night air, gasping for breath as he scrambled across the manicured lawn toward the main entrance of the estate. He threw open the front doors just as Arthur and Clara emerged from the secret service corridor carrying a heavy metal lockbox between them.
"Julian!" Clara cried out, running straight into his arms.
"You're safe, I've got you," Julian breathed, kissing her hair before turning his fierce gaze toward the grand staircase where Elena stood watching them with absolute fury.
"You should have stayed in the basement, Julian," Elena said coldly, pulling a small silver firearm from the waistband of her trousers and leveling it directly at his chest.
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"It's over, Elena," Julian said steadily, stepping in front of Clara and Arthur while holding up the digital drive Arthur had extracted from the vault. "The police have already received the automated backup of every file in your secret server."
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