Chapter 9 - The Standoff
Caitlyn stared at the roaring flames in complete, agonizing despair.
Tears streamed down her soot-stained face, mixing with the heavy rain.
"He wasn't in there," Damian gasped out, wiping his face with his sleeve.
"The room was completely empty."
Before Caitlyn could process the horrifying truth, Damian's cell phone rang loudly.
The obnoxious ringtone cut sharply through the sounds of the crackling fire.
Damian pulled the device from his pocket and immediately put it on speaker.
"Hamilton," the Chicago boss said, his voice dripping with cruel amusement.
"I must say, I am genuinely impressed you survived that little bonfire."
"Where is the boy?" Damian demanded furiously.
"Look up, boss," the rival executive chuckled darkly over the line.
Damian and Caitlyn simultaneously looked toward the towering, rusty shipping crane nearby.
A lone spotlight illuminated the small metal platform at the very top.
The Chicago boss was standing right on the perilous edge.
In front of him was Noah, strapped tightly into his medical wheelchair.
Noah looked absolutely terrified, his one good hand trembling violently in the cold wind.
"Noah!" Caitlyn screamed, her voice tearing from her throat.
"Come on up, Hamilton," the boss challenged over the phone.
"Let's finish our business properly."
Damian did not say a word, simply sprinting toward the base of the massive crane.
Caitlyn followed right behind him, refusing to be left on the ground.
They climbed the steep, slippery metal stairs as quickly as they could.
The wind whipped violently around them as they ascended higher into the sky.
They finally reached the top platform, breathless and soaked to the bone.
The Chicago boss stood firmly behind the wheelchair, holding a heavy pistol.
He pressed the cold barrel directly against Noah's fragile temple.
Noah whimpered softly, his eyes locking onto his sister in desperate plea.
"It is over, Hamilton," the boss sneered.
"Your empire is mine, or the crippled kid takes a very long fall."
Damian raised his own weapon, aiming perfectly at the man's head.
"If you pull that trigger, I will put a bullet through your eye," Damian promised.
The boss laughed, completely unbothered by the threat.
"You might shoot me, but my dying reflex will push this chair right over the edge."
The rival executive smiled, enjoying his moment of absolute power.
May you like
"Kick your gun off the platform, Hamilton," the boss commanded.
"Drop the weapon right now, or I swear I will kill him."
