Chapter 6 - The Baby Kicked While Grant Was Holding the Gun
The abandoned church stood thirty minutes outside Savannah.
Grant entered alone.
He carried the metal lockbox.
Inside was a dummy drive.
The real drive remained with Trent.
Desmond sat near the altar.
Victor Langford stood beside him.
Jolene was tied to a chair.
Her face was pale.
But she was conscious.
"Grant."
He looked at her.
"I'm here."
Desmond smiled.
"Family."
Grant placed the box on the floor.
"Let her go."
Victor laughed.
"You don't negotiate."
"Tonight I do."
"Why?"
Grant looked at Jolene.
"Because she is not an asset."
He looked at Desmond.
"She is my family."
Desmond shook his head.
"Your father said the same thing."
"Then perhaps he was right."
Victor raised his gun.
"Open the box."
Grant did.
Victor reached for the drive.
Desmond examined it.
Then he smiled.
"You think I'm stupid?"
He pointed the gun at Jolene.
"Where is the real ledger?"
Grant didn't answer.
Desmond stepped closer.
"Your child is worth billions."
Grant's eyes darkened.
"You won't touch my son."
Jolene froze.
"Son?"
Grant looked at her.
"Desmond said the baby was a boy."
Tears filled her eyes.
She smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Grant's chest tightened.
"How did you know?"
"The doctor told me last week."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to."
Desmond shouted.
"Enough!"
He stepped toward Jolene.
The baby kicked.
Jolene gasped.
Grant saw it.
A tiny movement beneath her dress.
Something inside him shattered.
He moved before thinking.
The gunfire was deafening.
Trent's men burst through the side doors.
Victor fired.
Desmond ran.
Grant grabbed Jolene and shielded her.
A bullet hit the wall beside them.
They dropped behind the pews.
Jolene clutched her stomach.
"The baby."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
Then she whispered:
"Grant."
He looked.
She took his hand and placed it against her stomach.
He felt it.
A tiny kick.
His eyes filled.
"That's him?"
She nodded.
Grant stared at her.
"He's real."
"Yes."
"He knows I'm here."
She smiled through tears.
"Maybe."
Grant kissed her forehead.
"I should have been there."
"You are now."
They moved toward the exit.
Victor was gone.
Desmond had escaped too.
But Monica's father had left something behind.
A phone.
Grant found the last message.
The location pointed to the docks.
He looked at Jolene.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Jolene."
"I'm done staying behind."
He stared at her.
She lifted her chin.
"They have lied about my life for years."
She touched her stomach.
"They are not deciding my child's future."
Grant smiled.
"That's my girl."
They went together.
At the docks, they found Victor trying to board a boat.
Monica stood with him.
Her hands were tied.
Desmond held the gun.
"Drop yours."
Grant did.
Desmond smiled.
"Now the ledger."
Grant held up the USB.
"It's here."
Desmond took one step.
Then another.
Behind him, Jolene quietly cut Monica's restraints.
Monica ran.
Desmond turned.
Grant lunged.
They fought near the edge of the dock.
Desmond fell.
He grabbed the railing.
Grant reached for him.
For one moment, Grant could let him fall.
Instead, he pulled him up.
Desmond looked shocked.
"Why?"
Grant said:
"Because I'm not you."
Police arrived seconds later.
Victor was arrested.
Monica was safe.
Desmond was taken into custody.
And the ledger was finally secured.
But the story wasn't over.
May you like
Because the ledger contained one final name.
Grant Holloway.
