Chapter 57 - The Exchange Point
|
The mountain pass narrowed to a sheer drop-off, a terrifying, jagged ravine overlooking a frozen river hundreds of feet below. It was the only neutral ground between the vault entrance and Julian’s armored convoy.
I walked slowly toward the edge, my boots crunching heavily in the packed snow. The encrypted hard drive was cold in my bare hand.
Julian mirrored my movements, dragging Nicolás roughly by the collar of his jacket. The wind whipped around us, threatening to push us off balance.
"Stop right there," I commanded, stopping ten feet from the edge of the cliff.
Julian halted, yanking Nicolás in front of him as a human shield. The fifteen-year-old looked at me, his eyes wide, silently begging me to figure a way out of this nightmare.
"The drive, Elena," Julian demanded, extending his free hand.
"Let him go first," I replied, holding the drive tightly over the precipice. "If your snipers take a shot, my hand opens, and your billions shatter on the rocks below."
Julian's jaw tightened. He knew I wasn't bluffing. Slowly, deliberately, he shoved Nicolás forward.
Nico stumbled through the snow, running toward me. I didn't take my eyes off Julian. As Nico passed me, I grabbed his arm and shoved him behind me, shielding his body with my own.
"Now, the drive," Julian said, his patience completely exhausted.
I looked at the small piece of metal in my hand. My father had died for this. He had sacrificed his life, his family, and his peace of mind to keep this out of the syndicate's hands. Giving it to Julian meant the Viper would rise stronger than ever, immune to international law, fully funded by blood money.
But looking at my son shivering behind me, I knew there was no choice. Some wars couldn't be won.
"Take it," I said, tossing the hard drive through the air.
Julian caught it effortlessly, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. He examined the casing, verifying the serial numbers.
May you like
"Thank you, Elena," Julian whispered, raising his pistol and aiming it directly at my chest. "For everything."
But before he could pull the trigger, a massive explosion rocked the mountain pass.
