Chapter 14 - Protecting What Matters
The rain poured down in blinding sheets as my tactical SUV roared through the night toward my house in Oakridge, its siren blaring and red lights flashing through the darkness. Daniel was at the wheel, expertly maneuvering the heavy vehicle through the slippery curves.
"Base security reports Colonel Croft's vehicle just passed the outer gate of Oakridge," Daniel reported, clutching the steering wheel with white knuckles. "He's five minutes ahead of us!"
"Contact Mrs. Alvarez," I ordered, my voice dangerously cold as I checked the chamber of my service pistol. "Tell her to take Clara into the basement panic room immediately."
"She's already inside the safe room, General," Daniel confirmed. "The perimeter guards are engaged."
When our SUV screeched to a halt in the driveway of my estate, the scene was chaotic. The iron gates were smashed open, and the estate lights were flickering under an automated security lockdown.
I threw open the SUV door and hit the ground running, my weapon drawn, Daniel right behind me with his tactical rifle raised.
We moved swiftly up the front steps and swept through the front door. Inside the living room--the very room where Jason had thrown my hospital bag months ago--stood Colonel Thomas Croft. He was dressed in a dark civilian coat, holding a heavy tactical briefcase connected to a portable hacking tablet plugged into my house's master security hub.
"Croft!" I barked, aiming my weapon directly at his chest. "Drop the equipment and put your hands behind your head!"
Croft spun around, his face pale, eyes wide with manic desperation. "Emily! You shouldn't have come here!"
"It's over, Thomas," I said, taking two slow, deliberate steps forward, keeping my sightline locked on his heart. "Your syndicate handlers have been arrested in Europe. Chloe Miller is serving thirty years. Jason Vance is in a federal penitentiary. You have nowhere left to run."
"You think you own everything, don't you?!" Croft yelled hysterically, his hand trembling as he reached into his coat pocket. "Just because your grandfather left you twenty million dollars! Just because you wear a star on your shoulder! You destroyed everything I built!"
"You destroyed yourself when you chose treason over honor!" Daniel roared, stepping up beside me with his rifle trained on Croft's head.
Croft pulled a small detonator switch from his pocket--a localized EMP device designed to destroy the house's safe room locks.
Before he could thumb the switch, I fired two precise shots.
The bullets struck the wall right beside Croft's ears, shattering the wood paneling and sending splinters flying into his face. The shockwave knocked the detonator from his trembling hand, sending it skittering across the floor.
Before he could react, Daniel charged forward, slamming Croft into the wall, driving him to the floor, and securing his wrists in heavy zip-ties in one fluid, tactical movement.
"Target subdued," Daniel announced calmly, kneeling on Croft's back.
I walked over, picked up the detonator, and disarmed it. Then I hurried down the hallway to the hidden basement door, typing in my master security code.
The heavy steel door slid open. Mrs. Alvarez was sitting inside on a leather sofa, cradling little Clara in her arms.
The moment Clara saw me, she let out a sweet, delighted laugh, reaching her tiny hands toward me.
May you like
I fell to my knees, taking my baby into my arms, pulling her tight against my chest, tears of relief washing down my cheeks.
"You're safe, my baby," I whispered softly, kissing her forehead. "You're safe now."
