CHAPTER 7 — THE FINAL GAMBIT
CHAPTER 7 — THE FINAL GAMBIT
Emily's fingers trembled as she picked up the faded photograph.
The nurse's gentle smile was unmistakable.
It was her mother.
The woman who had died when Emily was only twelve.
She slowly turned the picture over again.
"Your mother died protecting him."
She looked up at Charles Whitmore.
"You're lying."
Charles smiled without warmth.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He pressed a button on the table.
An old video flickered onto a screen mounted on the wall.
The footage was grainy, recorded more than three decades earlier.
A frightened young nurse ran through a smoke-filled hospital corridor with an infant wrapped in a blanket.
Behind her, armed men shouted.
One of them fired.
The nurse stumbled but never let go of the baby.
Emily's breathing stopped.
The woman turned toward the security camera for a brief second.
It was her mother.
Charles folded his hands.
"Her name was Sarah Carter."
"She worked at St. Matthew's Hospital."
"When the Lawson family was targeted, she refused to hand over the child."
Emily felt her world collapse.
"My mother... saved Blake?"
Charles nodded.
"She hid him."
"Then she entrusted him to another nurse before disappearing."
Emily whispered,
"Why didn't she keep him?"
"Because she had a newborn daughter."
Charles looked directly at Emily.
"She chose to save both children."
Tears filled Emily's eyes.
"My mother never told me."
"She couldn't."
Charles stood.
"She was murdered three days later."
Emily's heart pounded.
"You killed her."
Charles shrugged.
"I gave the order."
The room fell silent.
Charles stepped closer.
"Do you know why I showed you the truth?"
Emily said nothing.
"Because Blake is already on his way."
Charles smiled coldly.
"And tonight..."
"...I'll finish what I started thirty-two years ago."
Meanwhile...
Three military helicopters thundered across the Miami skyline.
Inside the lead aircraft, Blake stood instead of sitting.
Marcus watched him quietly.
"Satellite confirmed the location."
"Whitmore's private island."
"Twenty-four armed guards."
Blake loaded a pistol.
"No police."
Marcus nodded.
"They won't arrive in time."
Every member of Blake's security team checked their weapons.
They weren't mercenaries.
Many were former military personnel Blake had helped rebuild their lives after service.
Every one of them had volunteered.
Not because of money.
Because they respected the man they worked for.
Marcus looked at Blake.
"Sir..."
"If this goes wrong..."
Blake interrupted him.
"It won't."
The helicopter doors slid open as the island came into view.
A heavily fortified mansion stood on the cliffs.
Searchlights swept across the shoreline.
Marcus smiled grimly.
"They're expecting us."
Blake chambered a round.
"So let's not disappoint them."
The first explosion shattered the front gate.
Security alarms screamed.
Gunfire erupted across the estate.
Whitmore's guards scattered as smoke grenades filled the courtyard.
Blake moved through the chaos with terrifying precision.
Every step brought him closer to Emily.
Inside the mansion...
Charles heard the explosions.
He sighed.
"He's early."
Emily suddenly drove her chair backward with all her strength.
It slammed into Charles's knees.
He stumbled.
Emily grabbed the heavy brass lamp from the table and struck his arm.
The pistol flew across the room.
She ran.
The door burst open.
Marcus appeared first.
"Mrs. Campbell!"
Behind him...
Blake.
Their eyes met.
For one heartbeat, the world disappeared.
Emily ran straight into his arms.
"I knew you'd come."
Blake held her tightly.
"There was never a world where I wouldn't."
Charles slowly stood behind them.
His face twisted with hatred.
He reached into his jacket.
Marcus shouted,
"Gun!"
Charles fired.
Time seemed to stop.
Blake turned instinctively.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
Emily screamed.
Before Charles could fire again—
A single shot echoed through the room.
Charles froze.
His eyes widened.
Then he collapsed.
Standing in the doorway...
May you like
Was Richard Carter.
Holding the smoking pistol.
