Chapter 11 - The Fall from the Sky
Matthew shoved Owen toward the rear seat and lunged for the controls.
The undercover pilot struck his arm away.
The helicopter tilted sharply.
I dropped to the concrete as the blades screamed above me.
Owen began crying.
Matthew punched the pilot and reached for the throttle.
A tactical officer climbed through the opposite door.
Matthew kicked him back.
The aircraft skidded sideways, one landing rail scraping across the helipad.
Sparks scattered into the rain.
“Matthew.”
I shouted.
He turned toward me.
That moment of distraction gave the pilot enough time to shut down the engine.
The blades slowed.
Officers rushed from every direction.
Matthew seized Owen and stepped out onto the wet concrete.
He held the boy against his chest.
In his other hand was a small folding knife.
Lauren’s scream came through the speakers.
“Don’t touch him.”
Matthew looked toward the command vehicle’s location.
“You did this.”
He shouted.
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
Lauren’s voice trembled.
“You did.”
Matthew backed toward the edge of the platform.
The East River moved sixty feet below.
Owen reached toward me.
“Mommy.”
The word was meant for Lauren.
It broke something open inside Matthew.
He had spent years treating people like possessions.
Now the child in his arms wanted someone else.
“You don’t need him.”
I said.
Matthew stared at me.
“You never wanted children.”
“You told Lauren that.”
“I told you I was afraid.”
Four years earlier, after two miscarriages, I had told Matthew I could not survive another attempt.
He had held me and promised that I was enough.
Then he used my grief to seduce another woman.
“You thought a child would make Lauren easier to control.”
I continued.
“You thought hurting me would make her admire you.”
“But no one admires you now.”
His face twisted.
“You’re still nothing without the Sterling name.”
“Then why did you spend seven years stealing everything I created?”
He stepped closer to the edge.
Ortiz signaled the officers to hold.
I moved forward slowly.
“You want the world to believe you are powerful.”
“Powerful men do not hide behind children.”
“Shut up.”
“You want to defeat my father.”
“Then face him.”
“Leave Owen out of it.”
Matthew’s eyes shifted toward the stairwell.
My father stood there alone.
He had removed his coat.
His hands were visible.
“Give me the boy.”
Richard said.
“You destroyed my family.”
Matthew shouted.
“No.”
My father replied.
“You destroyed the family my daughter gave you.”
Owen suddenly bit Matthew’s hand.
Matthew cried out.
The knife fell.
I rushed forward as the child slipped from his arms.
My father caught Owen.
Officers tackled Matthew before he reached the edge.
His face struck the wet concrete.
For the first time, he was the one on his knees.
He looked up at me with rain running down his face.
“This company dies without me.”
I stood over him.
May you like
“NexusCore started before you.”
“It will survive after you.”
