Chapter 17: Chloe’s Final Betrayal
Chloe’s hair was matted with rain and sweat, her expensive designer dress torn and stained with mud.
She looked less like a wealthy socialite and more like a cornered animal pushed past the brink of sanity.
The suppressed pistol in her hand shook violently, but the laser sight remained locked dead-center on Elena Vance’s chest.
"Drop the bag, Elena," Chloe shrieked, her voice echoing off the wet stone walls of the cove.
"You think you can just orchestrate a global takedown, fake your death for a decade, and sail off into the sunset while I take the fall for your corporate wreckage?"
Elena turned around slowly, her face maintaining an eerie, calculated calm despite the weapon pointed at her heart.
"Chloe, put the gun down," Elena said softly, stepping in front of Leah as if to shield her daughter one last time.
"You were just a pawn in Arthur’s game. Division 7 used your greed to manipulate the entire board."
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Chloe sobbed hysterically, her finger tightening on the trigger.
"Arthur is in handcuffs! Ryan is in a black site! I’m the only one left holding an empty bag, and nobody is going to walk away while I rot in a prison cell!"
Leah stood silently behind her mother, her hand sliding quietly toward the grip of her holster.
She watched Chloe’s eyes darting frantically between her and Elena, measuring every twitch of muscle and breath.
"You don't have to do this, Chloe," Leah said calmly, stepping out from behind her mother’s shadow.
"The federal authorities are already dismantling Division 7. If you surrender now, your cooperation can still secure you a reduced sentence."
"A reduced sentence?" Chloe laughed—a harsh, manic sound that was nearly swallowed by the roar of the crashing waves.
"I don't want a reduced sentence, Leah! I want everything you own! I want your life!"
Chloe’s finger began to pull back on the trigger.
In a fraction of a second, Elena moved with shocking speed, shoving Leah out of the path of fire just as Chloe’s gun flashed in the dim light.
BANG!
The bullet slammed into Elena’s shoulder with a sickening thud, spinning her around and sending her crashing hard onto the wet rocks.
"Mom!" Leah screamed, dropping to her knees beside Elena as a dark crimson stain bloomed across her coat.
Before Chloe could adjust her aim for a second shot, Leah drew her firearm from its holster with lightning speed.
She didn't hesitate.
She squeezed the trigger.
CRACK!
The bullet struck Chloe’s pistol right in the barrel, shattering the weapon and sending it flying out of her hand with a sharp metallic clatter.
Chloe screamed, clutching her bleeding, smoking hand as she stumbled backward against the rock wall.
Leah didn't give her another chance to move.
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She stood up, walked over with cold, measured strides, and kicked Chloe’s legs out from under her, pinning her face-down into the wet gravel.
"The game is over, Chloe," Leah whispered fiercely, pressing her boot against Chloe’s back as sirens began to wail faintly from the clifftop far above.
