Chapter 7 - The Trial of Blood and Fire
Marcus froze, his breathing coming in heavy, ragged gasps. The blood from his cheek dripped steadily onto his leather jacket. He looked at the gun in Richard's hand, then looked at the two terrified children cowering behind the millionaire.
A insane, desperate grin spread across Marcus’s bloody mouth.
"You won't shoot me, rich boy," Marcus sneered, taking a tiny step toward Sarah. "You're a tech executive! You live in a palace! You don't have the guts to pull that trigger in front of these kids!"
"Try me," Richard whispered softly.
Marcus roared, raising the crowbar and lunging toward Sarah with all his weight.
BANG!
The deafening roar of the gunshot shattered the silence of the mansion, echoing like a cannon blast through the halls.
The heavy bullet struck the concrete floor precisely two inches in front of Marcus's lead boot, sending sharp stone shrapnel ricocheting into his legs.
Marcus let out a blood-curdling shriek of pain, dropping the crowbar as he fell hard onto his knees, clutching his torn shins.
Before Marcus could recover, the double doors of the library were kicked open from the outside. Four armed security guards rushed into the room, their weapons drawn, instantly swarming over Marcus like a pack of wolves.
They slammed him face-down onto the blood-stained carpet, forcing his arms behind his back and pinning him under three hundred pounds of tactical weight.
"AGH! MY LEGS! YOU SHOT MY LEGS!" Marcus screamed, thrashing wildly.
Richard didn't even look at the bleeding man on the floor. He lowered his weapon, engaged the safety, and dropped to his knees in front of Sarah and Tommy.
"Are you hurt?" Richard asked, his hands gently framing Sarah’s face. His voice, which had been so lethal seconds ago, was now filled with incredible, trembling tenderness. "Sarah, look at me. Are you okay? Is Tommy hurt?"
Sarah stood frozen, her eyes wide, her chest heaving as the adrenaline slowly drained from her body. She looked at Richard, then looked down at Tommy, who was weeping quietly, holding her waist.
The heavy brass bookend slipped from Sarah's fingers, thudding softly onto the carpet.
She collapsed forward, throwing her arms around Richard’s neck, sobbing hysterically into his shoulder.
"You came..." Sarah sobbed, her whole body shaking with violent relief. "You came for us..."
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Richard wrapped his strong arms around both children, pulling them tight against his chest, resting his chin against Sarah’s hair.
"I will always come for you," Richard promised, tears finally welling up in his own gray eyes. "I will always be here."
