Chapter 8 - The Desperate Strike
The room was in total bedlam. Sirens were already wailing in the distance; the journalists in the room had immediately live-streamed the documents. The Whitmore empire was collapsing in real-time.
Charles collapsed onto a chair on the stage, clutching his chest, his face gray as he realized he was going to die in a federal prison.
But Victoria was not done. Driven entirely mad by the loss of her wealth, her status, and her freedom, she noticed a discarded gun dropped by one of the subdued security guards near the front row.
While Elias was focused on keeping the crowd back and securing the perimeter, Victoria dove for the weapon. She scrambled to her feet, her hands shaking wildly as she aimed the heavy pistol directly at Clara's back.
"If I don't get it, neither do you!" Victoria shrieked.
Clara turned, her eyes widening as she saw the barrel pointed at her chest.
A gunshot rang out, deafening in the enclosed space.
But Clara didn't feel the bullet.
Elias had moved faster than a man of his size had any right to. He threw himself in front of Clara, taking the bullet meant for her. The heavy caliber round struck him in the side, spinning him around. He hit the ground heavily, his blood spilling onto the pristine stage.
"Elias!" Clara screamed, dropping to her knees beside him.
Victoria laughed hysterically, raising the gun to fire again. "I win! I still win!"
Before she could pull the trigger, Elias, fighting through the agonizing pain, pulled a hidden throwing knife from his boot and hurled it with terrifying precision. The blade buried itself in Victoria's shoulder.
She screamed, dropping the gun and falling backward.
Seconds later, heavily armed SWAT teams burst into the auditorium, screaming for everyone to get on the ground. They immediately converged on Charles and the bleeding Victoria, snapping handcuffs on them as the press continued to film the dramatic downfall.
Clara ignored the police, ignored the cameras, ignored the destruction of her blood family. Her hands were pressed desperately against Elias's side, trying to stop the bleeding.
"Stay with me," she sobbed, tears ruining her fierce facade. "Elias, you promised me! You promised you wouldn't leave me!"
Elias looked up at her, a faint, exhausted smile crossing his rough features. He reached up with a bloodstained hand and gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
May you like
"I told you," he whispered, his breathing shallow. "I never lose a principal."
Then, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
