Chapter 8 - The Price of Redemption
"I'm not leaving you to die!" Claire yelled, tears finally breaking through her stoic defense.
She turned to Jenna. "Take Leo down to the cellar! Lock the door from the inside! Do not come up until I tell you!"
Jenna nodded frantically, grabbing the baby blanket and disappearing down the cellar door.
Claire ripped open Damian’s coat, using a clean dish towel from the counter to apply heavy pressure to his abdominal wound. Damian groaned in agonizing pain, reaching up with a blood-stained hand to gently touch her cheek.
"Why... why are you helping me?" he whispered weakly. "I failed you..."
"Because I loved you, you idiot!" Claire sobbed, pressing down harder to stem the blood flow. "And because my son deserves to know a father who tried to fix his mistakes!"
Outside, engines roared. Viktor and a convoy of Moreland security vehicles burst onto the snow-covered lawn, having tracked Damian’s emergency beacon when he stopped responding. Heavy gunfire erupted outside as Viktor’s team decimated Vance’s mercenaries.
Minutes later, the front door was kicked open, and Viktor rushed inside, gun drawn.
"Boss! Mrs. Moreland!" Viktor yelled, dropping to his knees beside them. "Medics are right behind us!"
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Damian’s eyes were fading, but he gripped Claire’s hand with everything he had left. "Protect... them..." he choked out, before his eyes rolled back and he went completely limp in her arms.
"Damian! Damian!" Claire screamed, pulling his head into her lap, her tears washing away the soot and blood on his face.
