Chapter 7 - The Night the City Went DarkThe hospital emergency generators failed.
Doors locked.
Security cameras went black.
August immediately understood.
“This is coordinated.”
Hollis was still weak.
“I can't run.”
“You don't have to.”
He lifted her.
She protested.
“August.”
“I've got you.”
They moved through the dark hallway.
Two guards joined them.
At the stairwell, someone fired.
August pushed Hollis down.
The bullet struck the wall.
They escaped into the basement.
There, a security officer met them.
“Vehicle is ready.”
August nodded.
They reached the parking garage.
But their car had been destroyed.
Another plan.
Then Hollis noticed an ambulance.
“They'll check official vehicles.”
August understood.
They climbed into the ambulance.
Emma was already inside.
She smiled.
“You guys take forever.”
They escaped.
The city behind them was chaotic.
Police sirens.
Blackouts.
Fire trucks.
News helicopters.
The entire network was collapsing.
Rafferty was making his final move.
He broadcast a statement accusing August of murder and corruption.
The city turned against him.
August watched the broadcast.
“He thinks I care about the empire.”
Hollis shook her head.
“You don't.”
“No.”
“What do you care about?”
He looked at her.
“You.”
Her eyes filled.
“And the baby?”
“And the baby.”
“And Emma?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Then we already won.”
They went to a federal safe house.
The hard drive was uploaded.
Authorities began arresting people.
But Rafferty escaped.
He took the original files.
And disappeared.
Three days later, Hollis received a message.
COME TO THE BRIDGE.
ALONE.
She deleted it.
August saw.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
He knew she was lying.
“Show me.”
She did.
He stared.
“This ends tonight.”
They went to the bridge.
Rafferty waited.
He looked exhausted.
But he smiled.
“You changed him.”
Hollis said nothing.
Rafferty continued.
“I watched him become weak.”
August stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Rafferty raised a weapon.
“You should have taken the money.”
Hollis looked at him.
“I'd rather be broke than bought.”
Rafferty laughed.
“You think that's noble.”
“It is.”
“No.”
He looked at August.
“You know what he was?”
Hollis answered.
“Someone who didn't know how to love.”
August stared at her.
Rafferty fired.
August moved.
The shot missed Hollis.
Police surrounded the bridge.
Rafferty dropped his weapon.
It was over.
Or almost.
He looked at Hollis.
“You still don't know what Daniel was carrying.”
She frowned.
“What?”
Rafferty smiled.
“Your husband didn't discover the money.”
“He discovered something much worse.”
“What?”
“The person who originally funded it.”
Rafferty was taken away before he could answer.
Hollis looked at August.
“Who?”
August shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
May you like
THE MONEY STARTED WITH YOUR FATHER.
August went pale.
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