Chapter 14 - The Final Stand
With explosive speed, Daniel lunged forward, ignoring protocol, safety, and self-preservation. He didn't aim for Thomas's chest; he dove straight into the line of fire, throwing his shoulder hard into Thomas's midsection just as the revolver discharged.
*Bang!*
The gunshot roared inside the enclosed carriage house like a cannon blast, the bullet tearing through the sleeve of Daniel's jacket and scorching the skin of his upper arm before embedding itself deep into a wooden beam behind them.
The impact sent both men crashing hard onto the concrete floor. Thomas scrambled to retain his grip on the heavy silver revolver, but Daniel drove his fist downward in a brutal, straight punch that connected squarely with Thomas's jaw, sending a shockwave through his knuckles and dropping the criminal instantly into a dazed, semi-conscious heap.
Daniel didn't hesitate. He pinned Thomas's arms behind his back with his knees, ripped a pair of heavy flex-cuffs from his belt, and cinched them down with savage efficiency.
"It's over, Thomas. Stay down," Daniel panted heavily, blood dripping from a graze on his shoulder.
Sirens wailed closer as heavy tactical boots swarmed through the shattered doorways. State troopers and federal agents flooded the carriage house, securing the perimeter and cuffing Thomas as he glared up with unbridled hatred.
Daniel ignored the commotion, scrambling across the concrete to where Claire was still bound to the chair. His hands shook as he grabbed his tactical knife, slicing through the ropes with frantic haste.
"Claire! Claire, look at me. Are you alright?" he asked breathlessly, pulling the thick nylon cords away from her body.
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Claire slumped forward into her father's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm... I'm okay, Dad. You came for me. You really came."
"Always, sweetheart. Nobody ever hurts my family and walks away," Daniel whispered fiercely, burying his face in her damp hair as paramedics rushed forward with emergency medical kits and thermal blankets.
