Chapter 5 - The Last Stand
By Tuesday morning, the rain had cleared, leaving behind a crisp, brilliant autumn sky over Baltimore.
Thea stood in the private recovery suite of Johns Hopkins Hospital, holding her mother's hand.
Mrs. Lindquist, though pale and wearing oxygen tubes, was sitting up in bed, her color returning for the first time in two years. The four-hour heart valve replacement surgery had been a resounding, complete success.
"He's a good man, Thea," her mother whispered, looking past Thea toward the doorway where Lachlan was standing, speaking quietly with the chief surgeon. "I saw the way he watched you in the waiting room while I was in surgery. A man doesn't look at a woman like that unless she is his entire world."
Thea smiled, a warm tear slipping down her cheek. "I know, Mom. I know."
Suddenly, the heavy glass door of the waiting room burst open.
Julian Voss—Lachlan's wild, erratic cousin and Richard's son—stepped into the hallway, his face flushed red with alcohol and desperation. He held a heavy leather briefcase in his hand, his coat soaked with sweat.
"Lachlan!" Julian screamed, drawing the attention of hospital security guards. "You ruined my father! You froze our family trusts! You took everything from us!"
Lachlan stepped out of the recovery room, closing the door softly behind him to protect Thea’s mother from the noise. He stood tall in the hospital hallway, his face turned into absolute iron.
"Your father stole sixty million dollars from the company, Julian," Lachlan said coldly. "He belongs in federal prison, and so do you if you don't drop that briefcase and walk away."
Julian let out a crazed, hysterical laugh. Pulling a heavy silver revolver from inside his jacket, he pointed it straight at Lachlan's chest.
"I have nothing left to lose, cousin!" Julian yelled, his hand trembling violently on the trigger. "If I'm going to prison, you're going to the morgue!"
Patients and nurses screamed, diving behind desks for cover.
Lachlan didn't flinch. He took one slow step forward, his gray-blue eyes locking onto Julian with a terrifying, unyielding intensity that made Julian’s hand shake even harder.
"Shoot me, Julian," Lachlan challenged calmly, his voice echoing through the silent hallway. "Look me in the eye and do it. You've spent your whole life hiding behind your father's shadow. Show me if you have the guts to look the man you kill in the face."
Julian’s eyes darted frantically. The absolute lack of fear in Lachlan’s posture shattered what little resolve the young man had left.
Before Julian could pull the trigger, Thea stepped out from the utility room beside him, swinging a heavy metal IV pole with all her strength, striking Julian hard across his wrists.
BANG!
The gun fired harmlessly into the tiled floor, and Julian collapsed to his knees, howling in pain as the heavy metal pole knocked the weapon from his hand.
Within seconds, four armed hospital security officers tackled Julian to the ground, pinning his arms behind his back and cuffing him.
Lachlan didn't look at Julian. He rushed straight to Thea, grabbing her shoulders, scanning her body frantically for any sign of injury.
"Are you hurt? Thea, did he touch you?!" Lachlan demanded, his voice cracking with intense panic.
Thea dropped the metal IV pole, letting out a breathless laugh as she threw her arms around his waist. "I'm fine, Lachlan! I told you... I don't bow down to anyone."
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Lachlan buried his face in her dark hair, wrapping his arms around her so tightly she could feel the violent pounding of his heart against her ribs.
"You crazy, magnificent woman," Lachlan whispered, kissing her hair over and over. "I am never letting you out of my sight again."
