35. Chapter 35

Chapter 35

RICHARD

I watch Izel drive away, and it feels like my heart’s about to punch its way out of my chest. She’s wearing a fucking bomb vest. What the hell is Victor planning to do to her? The birth certificate crinkles in my hand as my eyes lock onto the name listed under “father”— Victor . A name I never expected I’d see there. My fingers tighten around the paper until it crumples, but I can’t let it go. This… this proves it. Izel’s father was never Will. It was Victor all along.

My jaw clenches so tight I feel like my teeth might break. Ava never had a chance. She was forced —by her own father, no less. He orchestrated the whole fucking thing, then sat back and watched as his lie poisoned everything. That son of a bitch didn’t just hide the truth—he rewrote it, got that birth certificate forged, made it disappear, and let Will take the blame for something so monstrous it’s hard to wrap my mind around.

I let the birth certificate slip from my hand, watching it fall to the floor like the piece of evidence it is, the truth that’s been hidden for years. I feel the heat crawl up my neck as I sprint down the stairs.

Luna is right behind me. I almost crash into Mrs. Montclair who is standing at the door.

“What happened?” she asks, but I can’t answer. My throat is too tight with fear for Izel.

I bolt for the car, practically throwing myself into the driver’s seat. Luna jumps in beside me, and I slam the key into the ignition, firing up the engine. Mrs. Montclair’s questions fade as we peel out of the driveway.

“What’s wrong Rick?” Luna mutters.

“Izel is in danger. Victor has her and he is taking her away,” I say through gritted teeth.

We tail Victor’s car, keeping a safe distance but close enough to keep him in sight. The streets blur as I push the speed limit. I can’t shake the image of Izel with that vest.

“Where do you think he’s taking her?” Luna asks, scanning the road ahead.

“Somewhere he thinks is safe, somewhere he can control,” I reply. “But he’s underestimating us.”

We weave through traffic. Victor’s car takes a turn onto a secluded road, and I follow. Every second counts and I feel like time is slipping through my fingers.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Luna says. “We’ve got to get to her before he does something irreversible.”

“We will,” I say, more to myself than to her. “We have to.”

Victor’s car suddenly veers off towards Virginia. What’s his endgame here? I activate the Bluetooth system in my car and call for the patrol officers.

“Dispatch, this is SSA Reynolds. I need units to tail a black sedan, plate number Echo-Mike-4317. Approach silently from all directions. Do not, I repeat, do not make a move. We might have a casualty on our hands.”

I quickly call Emily and Noah, sending them my location. “Get here ASAP. Bring Colton. We might need backup.”

Victor’s car slows down near a hospital and I frown. What the hell is he doing at a hospital? I pull over at a safe distance away and watch as Victor and Izel get out of the car. But then I notice Victor carrying someone else from the back. The person is covered in blankets.

“Stay close,” I whisper to Luna as we get out of the car, following them inside.

We enter the hospital and Victor heads straight for the emergency room with purposeful strides. Izel glances around anxiously when she finally spots Luna and me standing in the corner. Her shoulders tense, and she takes a hesitant step forward. My heart aches, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to rush to her, scoop her up in my arms, and shield her from all this madness.

Victor approaches the nurse’s station, speaking to a nurse who nods and quickly ushers him to a room. He lays the figure—who I now realize is Ava—on a gurney. She’s pale, barely conscious.

Izel stands beside him and her fingers trace the bomb vest hidden under her coat. She looks around, and for a brief moment, our eyes meet. There’s a flash of recognition, and I can see the fear and desperation in her eyes.

I pull out my phone and text Emily and Colton: “They’re in the ER. Izel has a bomb vest on. Approach with extreme caution.”

Victor glances around, probably checking for any threats. I look away, pretending to be busy with my phone. He turns back to the nurse. “Can we get a private room for her”

The nurse nods and directs them down the hallway. I follow at a distance. Victor and Izel follow the nurse into a private room. I wait for a few seconds, then approach the door. The nurse is talking to Victor, asking questions about Ava’s condition.

I need to get Izel out of there, but I can’t risk Victor seeing me. I step back, moving to a position where I can keep an eye on the room without being noticed.

Emily and Colton arrive. “What’s the plan?” Emily whispers.

“We need to get Izel out of that vest without triggering Victor,” I say. “Emily, see if you can find a way to cut the power on this floor. Colton, get a distraction ready—something to draw Victor away from Izel. I’ll move in once he’s distracted.”

Emily nods and heads off to find the breaker box. I text Noah to arrange for a bomb squad ASAP. Then I shoot Wilson a message: “Situation at hospital. Need CMO informed immediately. Potential casualty with bomb vest.”

Colton gives me a grim nod before moving to create a diversion. The nurse starts moving towards the exit, and I seize the moment to slip closer.

Victor’s voice drifts through the partially open door. “She needs to rest. Please make sure no one disturbs us.”

“Of course, sir,” the nurse replies, and I hear her footsteps fading away.

I pull back and spot Emily, who gives me a thumbs-up. Seconds later, the lights flicker and go out. The hospital is plunged into semi-darkness.

Time to move.

I signal to Colton, who’s ready with his distraction. He activates the fire alarm, sending a shrill scream through the halls. Chaos erupts as patients and staff react to the alarm. Victor steps out of the room, looking agitated, just as Colton rushes past him, deliberately bumping into him and spilling a cup of coffee all over his suit.

“What the hell?” Victor snaps, distracted by the mess and the alarm.

“Sorry, man! My bad!” Colton says as he continues down the hall, drawing Victor’s attention away from the room.

This is my chance. I slip into the room and find Izel standing beside her mother, who’s still unconscious on the bed. Izel’s eyes widen when she sees me, but she stays silent.

“We’re getting you out of here,” I whisper, moving quickly to examine the vest. “Stay calm.”

I pull out a small knife and begin cutting through the straps of the vest. “I’ve got a bomb squad on the way.”

“Richard, hurry,” Izel whispers back. “He’ll be back any second.”

I slice through the last strap and carefully remove the vest. “Okay, it’s off. Now let’s get out of here.”

Izel looks at her mom. “We’ll get her out safe, I promise,” I say. She nods, taking a deep breath, and we step out of the room. I signal Emily.

“Get Ava to safety,” I instruct. She nods, moving quickly to secure her.

Izel and I start walking out, keeping close to the walls and trying to blend in with the patients. The hospital is bustling with staff and confused patients, making it easier to stay concealed. I keep a protective arm around Izel, guiding her through the hospital.

We finally reach the parking lot. Just as I think we’re in the clear, Izel stops dead in her tracks. I follow her gaze and see Victor, standing there with a sinister smile, holding a trigger in his hand.

The minute Victor sees me, his eyes go wide. He probably expected me to be dead, but Izel saved my life. I quickly push myself in front of Izel, shielding her with my body. Victor’s shock morphs into a smug smile as he toys with the trigger.

“Going somewhere, Agent?” he sneers, hovering his finger over the button.

“Victor, don’t do this,” I say. “You don’t have to go down this path. Let’s talk this out.”

He chuckles darkly. “Talk? What’s there to talk about? You think you can just walk in here and take what’s mine?”

“She’s not yours. She’s a person, not a possession. Let her go, and we can figure this out without anyone getting hurt.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’d love that,” he says. “But you see, Agent, you’ve already hurt me more than you know. And now, it’s my turn.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I insist, my mind racing for a way to diffuse the situation. “Think about Izel. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Deserve? What does deserve have to do with anything? This world is cruel, and it’s time she learned that.”

“Don’t be a coward,” I snap. “If you want to punish someone, punish me. Leave her out of this.”

His smile fades, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Always the hero, always trying to save the day. But not today.”

“Think about her mother,” I say desperately. “Ava wouldn’t want this. She’d want Izel to be safe.”

“You don’t know a damn thing about what Ava would want,” he hisses, his grip tightening on the trigger. “You know nothing about our family.”

“I know enough to see that you’re destroying it,” I retort. “Let her go. We can end this peacefully.”

Victor’s eyes narrow. “There’s no peace for me. Not anymore.”

I can see Izel trembling behind me, her fear is almost tangible. I have to keep him talking, buy us some time.

“Victor, you’re smarter than this,” I say, trying a different angle. “You know how this ends if you push that button. You won’t get away. It’s over.”

“Over?” He laughs, a harsh, bitter sound. “It’s far from over. This is just the beginning.”

“Don’t do it, Victor,” I say, taking a small step forward. “You’re better than this.”

And with that, he presses the trigger. A timer on the vest starts ticking down.

Colton suddenly appears, tackling Victor to the ground and handcuffing him as the patrol officers swarm in to secure him. Colton rushes over to me, holding the trigger, but the countdown doesn’t stop.

“Leave it here,” Izel says urgently. “We don’t have time.”

“No way. I’m not endangering the lives of the innocent people.” I turn to Colton. “Take Izel to safety. Now.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Izel protests.

“Colton, get her out of here!” I order. Colton nods and grabs Izel’s arm, but she struggles. “I’m coming with you, Richard! You can’t do this alone!”

I signal Colton, and he reluctantly handcuffs Izel. She fights against the cuffs. Before Colton can even secure the cuffs properly, she slips free, leaving him staring in stunned disbelief

“I’m sorry, Izel,” Colton says. He starts to lead her away, but she twists free.

“No! I’m not leaving you!” she screams, rushing back to me. “Richard, please. We can do this together.”

I grab her shoulders, anchoring her as my heart aches at the sight of her so terrified. “Listen to me. You need to go. I can’t focus if I’m worried about you.”

She shakes her head, hysterically. “No, I won’t leave you. I can’t lose you.”

I glance at the timer. Four minutes and forty-nine seconds. There’s no way the bomb squad will make it in time. Panic claws at my chest, but I push it down. “Baby, please, for once, just listen to me. I need you safe.”

“I can’t, Richard. I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time you saved me.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I take a deep breath, keeping my own emotions in check. “I love you too. More than anything. That’s why you need to go. If anything happens to you, I... I wouldn’t survive it.”

She looks at me, her eyes wide and filled with pain. “Richard, please...”

I pull her into a kiss, pouring everything I have into it. It’s probably a goodbye kiss that tears at my soul. I kiss her like she’s my last breath, and for a moment, I swear I can feel her heart beating in my chest. When I pull away, I look into her eyes and whisper, “I’m sorry.”

In one swift motion, I handcuff her again, but this time I do it right. She gasps, struggling against them, but it’s no use.

“Richard, no! Please, don’t do this!”

“I’m doing this to save you,” I assure her. “You need to be safe. That’s all that matters.”

“I need you, Richard. Please, don’t do this.”

I press my forehead to hers. “I need you to live. That’s the only way I can do this.”

Colton, looking torn, steps forward. “We have to go, Rick.”

I nod, barely able to pull myself away from her. “Take her, Colton. Keep her safe.”

Colton gently takes her arm, and she fights against him, screaming my name. “Richard! Please, don’t leave me!”

As Colton drags her away, her desperate struggle echoes in my ears, tearing me apart inside. I turn back to the bomb, and the timer is ticking down mercilessly.

“I love you, Izel,” I whisper to myself, hoping she can somehow hear me. “And I’m going to make sure you have a future, even if it means I won’t be in it.”

Three minutes and twenty seconds. My hands shake as I work on the wires, recalling every lesson I’ve ever learned about bomb defusal.

I pull out a wire, holding my breath. The timer stops. For a moment, I think I’ve done it. But then the timer starts ticking again, faster this time.

“Fuck it,” I mutter. There’s no way I can defuse this bomb.

I make a quick decision. I run to my car, throw the bomb into the passenger seat, and start the engine. Luna is screaming my name, but I block it out.

I slam on the gas and peel out of the parking lot. The timer is ticking down, each second feeling like a hammer to my skull. I weave through traffic, narrowly avoiding collisions. Horns blare, but I don’t care. I have to get this bomb away from everyone.

Two minutes.

I think about the lake nearby. I know it’s my best shot. I push the car harder, the engine roaring as I tear through the streets.

The woods come into view. I swerve onto the dirt road, trees whipping past. The car bounces and jolts, but I keep my foot on the pedal. I glance at the timer.

One minute.

I break through the treeline, the lake sparkling in the distance. I can see the end of the road where it drops off into the water. I push the car faster, ignoring the branches scraping against the sides.

Forty-five seconds.

I slam the brakes, spinning the car around so the passenger side is facing the water. I take a steadying breath before I throw the car into gear and let it roll forward.

Thirty seconds.

The cold water rushes up, slamming against the windows. I unbuckle and scramble over the center console, throwing open the passenger door just before it gets swallowed by the lake. Water pours in numbing my skin as I shove the door fully open, feeling the car start to sink.

Twenty seconds.

I take a deep breath and pull myself through the doorway, the current dragging at my legs. My lungs burn as I kick away, forcing myself through the dark water.

Fifteen seconds.

My chest tightens. I can’t see anything. My fingers slip on the smooth metal as I try to push away from the car, the bomb still ticking somewhere inside.

Ten seconds.

I finally break free, the surface above a shimmering blur. I push harder, my muscles are screaming, but I don’t stop.

Five.

The pressure in my head builds.

Four.

I kick faster, bubbles rushing past my face.

Three.

My vision starts to blacken around the edges.

Two.

My hand breaks through the surface, but I can’t tell if I’m too late.

One…