Chapter 16 - The Choice Blake Never Expected
Blake’s face was gray from blood loss.
Malcolm pulled him toward the balcony exit.
“Tell the police to stand down.”
I remained behind the damaged office door.
Blake looked at me.
For once, there was no arrogance in his eyes.
Only shame.
“Don’t do it, Claire,” he said.
Malcolm struck him with the pistol.
Blake nearly collapsed.
“You don’t get to become noble now,” Malcolm hissed.
Deputies surrounded the house.
A negotiator called Malcolm’s phone.
He ignored it.
Then Marissa spoke.
“You said you would protect me.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You were useful.”
Something inside her changed.
She walked into the hallway despite Daniel’s warning.
“I recorded every meeting.”
Malcolm turned the gun toward her.
That moment gave Blake his chance.
He drove his injured shoulder into Malcolm’s chest.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Security officers rushed from the stairwell as deputies entered through the kitchen.
Malcolm tried to reach the balcony.
I stepped from the office and pulled Emma behind me.
He saw us.
For one terrifying second, he moved toward my daughter.
Blake grabbed his ankle.
Malcolm fell hard against the glass doors.
Deputies surrounded him and ordered him to release the weapon.
He raised it.
A deputy fired one controlled shot into Malcolm’s arm.
The pistol dropped.
Malcolm screamed as officers pinned him to the floor.
Emma clung to me.
Blake looked up from the hallway.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
I did not forgive him.
But I called for the paramedics.
Saving his life did not erase what he had done.
It only proved I would not become cruel because he had been cruel to me.
As officers carried Malcolm away, he smiled through the pain.
“You think this ends with me?”
Daniel searched the uploaded files.
One account had received copies of every instruction.
May you like
The account holder was Patricia Carrington.
👉 Malcolm was under arrest, but the evidence suggested Patricia had been far more than a frightened mother helping her son.
