Chapter 9 - THE FINAL CONFRONTATION
"Get away from my daughter, Arthur!" Ethan roared, his voice echoing through the concrete corridor like thunder.
Arthur pointed his chrome revolver directly at Ethan's chest.
"She isn't just your daughter anymore, Ethan!" Arthur sneered, his eyes wild with greed and panic. "She is a fifty-million-dollar biological asset! Vanguard's entire stock valuation depends on the rare antibody therapies derived from her blood!"
"You're a monster, Arthur," Elena shouted from behind Ethan, her voice ringing with fierce anger. "You stole a six-year-old child and kept her in a cage for three years!"
Arthur's eyes flicked to Elena, recognizing her uniform.
"Ah, the twelve housekeeper," Arthur mocked. "I should have had you eliminated the moment you stepped foot in my brother's house."
"You won't touch her," Ethan spat, stepping forward, shielding both Lily and Elena with his broad frame. "And you will never touch my daughter again!"
Arthur's finger began to tighten on the revolver's trigger. "If I can't have her bloodlines, Ethan... neither of us leaves this room alive!"
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the subterranean facility—but it didn't come from Arthur's gun.
Arthur gasped, dropping his revolver as a taser dart struck him square in the chest, delivering fifty thousand volts of high-grade electrical current.
Arthur collapsed to the concrete floor, convulsing violently before going completely limp.
Behind Arthur's guards, a tactical squad of twenty Federal Marshals and Dallas Police Officers burst into the corridor, led by Marcus and the Federal District Attorney!
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS! FEDERAL AGENTS!" the lead Marshal shouted.
The remaining Vanguard guards immediately dropped their submachine guns, raising their hands in surrender as officers tackled them to the floor and slapped heavy steel handcuffs onto their wrists.
The Federal District Attorney stepped forward, holding an encrypted tablet displaying the complete, recovered files from Dr. Harrison's offshore accounts and Vanguard's illegal pediatric research logs—files that Marcus had transmitted to federal authorities fifteen minutes earlier.
"Ethan Carter," the District Attorney said, offering a respectful nod. "We received your emergency transmission and forensic evidence. Arthur Vance and Vanguard Biometrics are under federal custody for human trafficking, illegal medical experimentation, and attempted murder."
Ethan let out a massive, soul-cleansing breath.
He looked down at Lily, who was safe in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, watching the police officers with wide, curious eyes.
"Is it over, Daddy?" Lily asked softly.
Ethan kissed her cheek, tears of relief shining in his eyes.
"It's over, baby," Ethan whispered. "We're going home."
He looked over at Elena, holding out his hand to her.
May you like
Elena walked over, sliding her hand into his. Ethan pulled her close against his side, wrapping his arm around both her and his daughter.
"All three of us," Ethan added softly.
