Chapter 7 - The Trap at the Old Bridge
The old bridge stood outside the city.
Rain poured down.
Jasmine arrived with Derek and Marcus.
Arthur emerged from the darkness.
He held a photograph.
“You've ruined everything.”
“No,” Derek said.
“I rebuilt it.”
Arthur laughed.
“You think you can become a good man overnight?”
“No.”
Derek looked at Jasmine.
“I just need one reason to become better every day.”
Arthur raised his gun.
Victor appeared behind him.
“Beautiful.”
Jasmine's mother was brought forward.
She had been captured on the way to the safe house.
Jasmine panicked.
“Mom!”
Arthur smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Derek's expression turned cold.
“Let her go.”
“Give me the ledger.”
“It’s already in federal hands.”
“Then give me Jasmine.”
Derek stepped forward.
“No.”
Arthur looked surprised.
“You'd sacrifice your empire for a secretary?”
Derek shook his head.
“I'd sacrifice everything for the woman I love.”
Jasmine's eyes filled with tears.
Victor raised his weapon.
Then Marcus fired.
Chaos erupted.
Arthur shot Marcus in the shoulder.
Derek tackled Victor.
Jasmine ran toward her mother.
Her mother struck one of the guards and escaped.
The fight continued.
Victor pulled a knife.
Derek blocked the first strike.
Then the second.
They fell against the bridge railing.
Victor whispered, “You were born for this life.”
Derek answered, “Maybe.”
He slammed Victor's wrist against the rail.
“But I don't have to die in it.”
Victor dropped the knife.
Police vehicles surrounded the bridge.
Victor was arrested.
Arthur attempted to flee.
Jasmine's mother stopped him.
She pointed her weapon.
“You took my husband.”
Arthur froze.
“You took my daughter’s childhood.”
She stepped closer.
“But you don't get to take anything else.”
She lowered the gun.
“Run.”
Arthur looked confused.
“I want you alive to see everything you built disappear.”
He was arrested minutes later.
The war was over.
But Derek was wounded.
He collapsed against Jasmine.
She screamed his name.
He smiled faintly.
“You're crying.”
“Of course I'm crying.”
“I don't like it.”
“Then stop getting shot.”
He laughed.
Then passed out.
The ambulance took him away.
Jasmine sat beside him all night.
When he woke, she was asleep with her head against his arm.
He moved his fingers through her hair.
She woke instantly.
“Derek?”
“I'm here.”
She began crying again.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You didn't.”
May you like
He squeezed her hand.
“And you won't.”
