Chapter 8 - The Confession
"Eric is soft," David sneered, taking a step closer to Maya.
"He wants to give away billions to charity. He wants to step down and play house. I built that company with him, and I'm not letting him give my legacy away."
"So you stole his unborn child?" Maya countered, her voice growing stronger.
"I secured an insurance policy," David corrected smoothly.
"Once the press gets wind that the perfect Eric Whitaker fathered a bastard with his wife's assistant, the board will demand his head."
In the hotel room, Eric closed his eyes, a look of profound betrayal washing over his face.
"He really thought he could get away with it," Eric whispered.
"Keep him talking," Reynolds ordered Maya over the earpiece. "We need him to mention the embezzlement."
"What about the money you stole from R&D?" Maya asked on the feed. "If I give you the baby, how do I know you won't frame my brother anyway to cover your tracks?"
David sighed, sounding bored.
"The fifty million I rerouted is fully washed, Maya. Your brother is just a convenient fall guy if the auditors ever wake up."
Bingo.
Agent Reynolds slammed his fist on the table. "We got him. Move in!"
"Now, give me the bastard child before I lose my temper," David growled, reaching into his coat pocket.
He pulled out a suppressed handgun and aimed it at Maya.
Panic flared in the command center.
"He's armed! Go, go, go!" Reynolds yelled into the radio.
On the screen, Maya froze in terror, dropping the bundle to the wet gravel.
David frowned, looking down at the blankets.
He kicked them apart, revealing nothing but rolled-up towels.
"What is this?" David roared, raising the gun toward Maya's head. "Where is the kid?!"
Suddenly, high-beam spotlights snapped on from every direction, blinding David.
"FBI! DROP THE WEAPON!" a voice boomed over a megaphone.
Armed agents swarmed from behind the shipping containers, their laser sights painting red dots all over David's chest.
David spun around wildly, squinting against the harsh light.
He realized instantly that he was completely surrounded.
For a split second, I thought he was going to fire, and my heart stopped.
But self-preservation won out.
David slowly lowered the gun, dropping it onto the wet gravel.
He raised his hands in the air as agents rushed forward, slamming him against the side of his SUV and cuffing him.
Marcus ran out and grabbed Maya, rushing her away from the center of the ambush.
"Target secured," Reynolds announced, pulling his headset off.
I let out a breath I felt like I had been holding for days.
May you like
Eric wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my hair.
"It's over," he whispered. "It's finally over."
