Chapter 7 - The Ambush and the Fall
Daniel’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Remission,” I repeated clearly, looking straight into the hidden lens behind his shoulder.
Before Daniel could react, the metal roller door blew inward with an explosive bang.
Stun grenades flashed with blinding white light and concussive sound.
*“POLICE! ON THE GROUND! DON'T MOVE!”*
Daniel stumbled backward, shielding his eyes, screaming in shock. “What the hell is this?!”
Tactical officers in full body armor swarmed through the entrance, assault rifles raised. Detective Vance was the first through the door, his service weapon drawn and leveled directly at Daniel’s chest.
“Daniel Mercer! Hands on your head! Face down on the floor! Now!”
“Wait!” Daniel shrieked, backing into the rear corner of the unit, knocking over metal shelving units. “This is a setup! She lured me here! She’s blackmailing me!”
“We have full audio and visual recording of every word you just spoke, Mr. Mercer,” Detective Vance roared over the din. “Get on the ground before we put you down!”
Daniel looked wildly around the room. He saw the camera lenses. He saw the wire pinned to my sweater. He realized, with sudden, suffocating clarity, that his brilliant, calculated world had collapsed in an instant.
He lunged toward me in a final, frantic spasm of rage. “You sick little b—”
Two officers tackled him mid-stride, driving him hard into the concrete.
The sound of his face hitting the floor was followed by the sharp, metallic click of handcuffs ratcheting tight around his wrists.
Rachel ran into the unit, ignoring the officers, and immediately threw her coat around my shoulders, kneeling beside my chair. “Emily! Are you alright? Did he touch you?”
“I’m fine, Rachel,” I said. And for the first time in three years, I wasn't lying. I felt entirely whole.
They dragged Daniel to his feet. His hair was plastered with dust, blood dripping from his nose where he had struck the floor. The polished, aristocratic executive was gone. In his place was a sniveling, desperate criminal.
He looked at me as they marched him past my chair.
“Emily, please!” he begged, his voice cracking into high-pitched hysteria. “Don’t do this! Think about everything we built! Think about our vows!”
I stood up from the chair. I stood tall, without leaning on Rachel, without wobbling, without pain.
May you like
“In sickness and in health, Daniel,” I said quietly, looking directly into his terrified eyes. “You broke the vow. Now you pay the price.”
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