Chapter 11 - DANIEL'S LAST BETRAYAL
“Put the gun down.”
Price's voice was calm.
Daniel laughed.
“You think I have a choice?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
His hand shook.
“Victor owns everything.”
“He doesn't own you.”
I stepped forward.
Daniel pointed the gun at me.
Luka moved instantly.
“Don't point that at her.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“You.”
His hatred focused on Luka.
“You destroyed my life.”
Luka stared at him.
“You sold your wife.”
“You think I wanted this?”
“You took the money.”
“I was desperate!”
“So you sold her body?”
Daniel flinched.
“Shut up!”
Emma started crying upstairs.
Every person in the room froze.
Daniel's face collapsed.
For one second, I saw the man I had married.
Then the gun lowered.
“I loved her.”
“No,” I said.
“You loved what we gave you.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Claire—”
“You loved having a wife who trusted you.”
“You loved being called Dad before you earned it.”
“You loved knowing I didn't know enough to leave.”
Daniel began sobbing.
“I didn't know they were going to use Luka's genetic material.”
“Would it have mattered?”
He couldn't answer.
That was my answer.
Daniel dropped the gun.
Price immediately kicked it away.
Then a shot came through the basement window.
Daniel jerked.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Luka pulled me down.
“Sniper!”
More shots shattered the glass.
Victor had found us.
Price called for backup.
Luka grabbed Emma upstairs.
We escaped through a tunnel beneath the laboratory.
My father had prepared everything.
Even an escape route.
At the far end, we reached an old barn.
A black SUV waited.
But Victor was already there.
He held a pistol.
Beside him stood Vanessa.
Her injured arm was in a sling.
A gun was pressed against her head.
Daniel staggered out behind us.
“Vanessa?”
Her face crumpled.
“I'm sorry.”
Victor smiled.
“Everyone is sorry eventually.”
He looked at me.
“Give me Emma.”
Luka stepped between us.
“No.”
Victor sighed.
“Still playing hero?”
“You should have killed me when I was seven.”
“I tried.”
Luka smiled.
“I know.”
Victor's face hardened.
Then he looked at me.
“Claire, would you like to know why your father really died?”
My throat tightened.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
May you like
Victor pointed at Luka.
“He did.”
