Chapter 14: The Last Room
Chapter 14: The Last Room
Smoke began pouring through the ventilation system.
Evelyn intended to burn the evidence and everyone with it.
Ortiz called for help, but the basement walls blocked the signal.
Ryan searched the vault.
His father had designed the room with an emergency exit.
Behind a shelf, Ryan found a mechanical release.
The hidden door opened into an old service tunnel.
Ryan, Maya, and Ortiz crawled through as flames spread across the basement ceiling.
They emerged inside the tower’s original boiler room.
Above them, alarms screamed.
Employees evacuated onto the street.
Evelyn appeared on the security monitors.
She stood in Ryan’s office on the top floor.
Oliver was beside her.
Ryan’s blood turned cold.
Evelyn had sent someone to the house during the alarm at the tower.
A fake police officer had taken Oliver from his protective detail.
Ryan grabbed a radio from a security guard.
“Mother, listen to me.”
Evelyn answered through the building’s intercom.
“You chose Maya over your family.”
“Maya and Oliver are my family.”
“I created everything you have.”
“You destroyed everything you touched.”
Ryan entered the private elevator with Maya and Ortiz.
The system had been locked, so they climbed the emergency stairs.
On the top floor, Evelyn stood beside the broken windows.
Wind blew through the office.
She held Oliver against her chest.
In her other hand was a pistol.
Oliver was crying.
“Daddy.”
Ryan stepped forward.
“I’m here, buddy.”
Evelyn pointed the weapon at Maya.
“She poisoned you against me.”
“No,” Ryan said. “You did that yourself.”
“I protected you from weakness.”
“You taught me to fear you.”
Evelyn’s face twisted.
For the first time, her perfect composure disappeared.
“I gave up my life for you.”
“You gave up nothing. You took.”
Maya slowly moved toward Oliver.
Evelyn raised the gun.
Ortiz aimed her weapon.
“Put it down.”
Oliver began wheezing.
The smoke had triggered his asthma.
Evelyn looked down at him.
For one second, Ryan saw uncertainty in her eyes.
Then she reached into her pocket.
She had Oliver’s inhaler.
Again.
“Give it to him,” Ryan pleaded.
“Tell Maya to leave.”
“He needs it now.”
“Tell her!”
Oliver gasped.
Maya moved without thinking.
She rushed forward.
The gun fired.
Ryan pulled Maya down.
The bullet struck the glass wall.
Ortiz tackled Evelyn.
The inhaler fell across the floor.
Ryan grabbed it and placed it against Oliver’s mouth.
“Breathe, buddy.”
Oliver inhaled.
Once.
Twice.
Slowly, his chest relaxed.
Behind them, officers placed Evelyn in handcuffs.
She stared at Ryan.
“You will regret humiliating me.”
Ryan held his son closer.
“No.”
May you like
He looked at Maya.
“I regret believing you for so long.”
