Chapter 6 - A Father's Sacrifice
"They aren't your leverage, Vance," I said, stepping forward slowly, drawing his attention entirely onto me. "They are innocent children. You want me. Put the guns down and face me like you should have eight years ago."
Marcus chuckled, a low, cruel sound. "Innocent? They're my offspring, Andrew! And yet, look at the little girl... she doesn't even look at me. She looks at you."
Sophie was crying quietly, her small eyes locked onto mine. "Mr. Andrew... I tried to protect them... like you said..."
My heart cracked open. In that single moment, every cold, unyielding wall I had built around my heart over thirty years in the Milwaukee underworld crumbled into dust. She wasn't just a girl I met in a grocery store anymore. She was my daughter.
"You did good, Sophie," I said softly, keeping my eyes locked on hers. "Now close your eyes and cover your ears."
"Shoot him!" Marcus screamed.
Before his mercenaries could pull their triggers, Victor threw a flashbang grenade through the floor-to-ceiling stained-glass window.
BANG!
A blinding white light and deafening roar filled the room. In that split second of total chaos, I lunged forward. I didn't shoot at Marcus—I dove straight toward Sophie and the infants, throwing my body over them as a wall of flesh and armor.
A spray of gunfire cut through the air. Pain exploded in my shoulder and upper thigh as two heavy rounds tore into me. I gritted my teeth, shielding the children with my broad back, absorbing every impact.
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"Andrew!" Victor yelled, firing his automatic rifle from the doorway, laying down covering fire.
Marcus screamed in fury as his men fell around him. Bleeding and cornered, Marcus grabbed a smoke cannister, popped it, and smashed through the rear patio doors, disappearing into the dark forest behind the estate.
