Chapter 7 - THE LAST BETRAYALThe underground tunnel led from the estate to an abandoned property two miles away.
Christopher moved quickly.
Nathan followed.
“Do you trust Juliette?” Nathan asked.
“No.”
“Good.”
They reached the exit.
No one was there.
Christopher frowned.
“This is too easy.”
Nathan nodded.
Then the lights came on.
Martin Blake stood waiting.
A gun in his hand.
Christopher stopped.
“Where is Emma?”
Martin smiled.
“You've become very difficult to control.”
Christopher stepped forward.
“You won't survive this.”
Martin laughed.
“You still think this is about money.”
Christopher stared at him.
“What else could it be?”
“Power.”
Martin gestured toward Nathan.
“Your family destroyed mine.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“What are you talking about?”
Martin's smile vanished.
“Your father ruined my father's life.”
Richard had followed them into the tunnel.
He froze.
Martin looked at him.
“You remember.”
Richard lowered his head.
“I remember.”
Christopher stared at his father.
“What did you do?”
Richard sighed.
“Martin's father discovered our company's illegal accounting.”
Christopher's eyes widened.
“And?”
“I forced him out.”
Martin's voice shook.
“He lost everything.”
Richard nodded.
“I was wrong.”
Martin raised the gun.
“You destroyed my family.”
Christopher stepped between them.
“This ends with me.”
“No.”
Martin smiled.
“It ends with Emma.”
Christopher's blood ran cold.
A door opened behind Martin.
Juliette appeared.
She was holding Emma.
Christopher's heart stopped.
“Emma!”
Emma cried.
“Daddy!”
Juliette's hands trembled.
Christopher looked at her.
“Don't hurt her.”
Juliette shook her head.
“I won't.”
Martin turned.
“You were supposed to bring them alone.”
“I did.”
“Then give me the child.”
Juliette hesitated.
Martin stepped toward her.
“Now.”
Juliette looked at Emma.
Then at Christopher.
Something changed in her eyes.
She pushed Emma toward Christopher.
“Run!”
Christopher caught his daughter.
Martin raised the gun.
A shot rang out.
Juliette screamed.
She fell.
Christopher shielded Emma.
Nathan tackled Martin.
Detective Reed and his officers stormed into the tunnel.
Martin was arrested.
Christopher dropped beside Juliette.
Blood stained her dress.
She looked at him.
“I know I don't deserve forgiveness.”
Christopher said nothing.
“I was wrong.”
She coughed.
“I thought money could save me.”
Christopher looked at Emma.
“You almost killed her.”
“I know.”
Juliette closed her eyes.
“But I couldn't let him kill her.”
The ambulance arrived.
As paramedics carried Juliette away, Christopher noticed something.
Her hand was closed around a small key.
He took it.
“What is this?”
Juliette whispered:
“Your mother's house.”
Christopher froze.
“My mother?”
“There's something there.”
Then she was gone.
Christopher looked at Nathan.
“What is she talking about?”
Nathan's expression changed.
“I don't know.”
But Richard did.
He whispered:
“Your mother left something behind.”
Christopher stared at him.
“What?”
May you like
Richard looked toward the darkness.
“The truth.”
