Ch.65: The Investor's Fall

The news cycle spins out of control.

Within hours, the story isn't just news; it's a movement. The hashtag #JusticeForElena is painted on walls in London, New York, Tokyo. Protesters surround the headquarters of the shell companies Sterling listed in his lawsuit.

I sit in a safe house provided by the network. The interview has been viewed fifty million times.

Sterling's phone calls have stopped. The lawsuit has been quietly withdrawn.

But money doesn't surrender. It liquidates.

"They're dumping stock," Thorne says, pacing the small living room. He’s watching the financial news on mute. "The Janus consortium. Their front companies are crashing. They're cutting their losses."

"Good," I say. I am cleaning the skin around my eye. The doctors say the graft site is healing, but the scars will be permanent.

"It's not good," Thorne says grimly. "When these people lose money, they don't get sad. They get even."

He checks his gun. He’s been wearing it even inside the safe house.

"We need to move. This location isn't secure anymore."

"Where?" I ask.

"I have a cabin," he says. "Up north. Off the grid. We can lay low until the indictments come down."

I nod. I trust him. He saved my life. He saved Lily.

We pack quickly. Just the essentials.

We head to the car. An armored SUV provided by the network's security team.

Thorne takes the wheel. I sit in the back with Lily. She is sleeping, her head on my lap. She doesn't flinch at my face anymore. To her, I am just Mommy.

We drive out of the city. The rain has started again, washing the streets clean.

We are on the highway, heading toward the mountains. The traffic is light.

Thorne is tense. He checks the mirrors constantly.

"We're being followed," he says suddenly.

I look back. A black sedan is two cars behind us. Tinted windows. No plates.

"Are you sure?"

"It's been with us since the safe house," Thorne says. "Hold on."

He accelerates. The SUV lurches forward.

The black sedan matches our speed.

"Get down!" Thorne yells.

*CRACK.*

The rear window shatters. Glass rains down on me and Lily.

I scream, covering Lily with my body.

"Stay down!" Thorne shouts. He swerves the car, weaving through traffic.

Another shot. It hits the side panel. *PING.*

They are shooting to kill.

Thorne reaches for his gun. He rolls down the window.

He fires back. *Pop-pop-pop.*

The sedan swerves, but it doesn't stop. A man leans out the passenger window with a submachine gun.

He opens fire.

The SUV is hit with a hail of bullets. The tires screech. Thorne fights the wheel.

"Hold on!"

He slams on the brakes. The sedan shoots past us.

Thorne spins the wheel. He rams the sedan from behind. *CRUNCH.*

The sedan spins out. It hits the guardrail and flips.

Thorne stops the car. He is breathing hard.

"Are you okay?" he asks, looking back.

"We're fine," I say, checking Lily. She is awake, terrified, but unhurt.

"Stay here," Thorne orders.

He gets out of the car. He walks toward the wreck, gun drawn.

The driver is dead. But the passenger... the passenger is crawling out of the broken window.

It’s Sterling.

His suit is torn. His face is bloody. But he is holding a gun.

He raises it.

Thorne fires.

He hits Sterling in the shoulder. Sterling drops the gun.

Thorne walks up to him. He kicks the gun away.

"It's over, Sterling," Thorne says.

Sterling laughs. He coughs blood.

"It's never over, Detective. The contract... the contract must be fulfilled."

He reaches into his jacket.

Thorne tenses. "Don't move!"

Sterling pulls out a second gun. A small backup piece.

He doesn't aim at Thorne.

He aims at the car. At me. At Lily.

Thorne sees it.

He doesn't shoot. He doesn't have time.

He dives.

He throws himself in front of the bullet.

*BANG.*

Thorne jerks. He falls to the pavement.

Sterling smiles.

Then his head snaps back.

I am standing by the car door. I am holding the rifle I took from the manor. I kept it.

I shot him.

I drop the rifle. I run to Thorne.

He is lying on his back. Blood is spreading across his chest.

"Lucas!" I scream.

I press my hands to the wound. "Stay with me! Stay with me!"

He looks up at me. His eyes are losing focus.

"Did I get him?" he whispers.

"Yes," I sob. "Yes, you got him."

He smiles. It’s weak, but it’s there.

"Good," he says. "That's... that's good."

He coughs. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth.

"I promised," he whispers. "I promised I'd get you out."

"You did," I say. "You did."

"Elena..."

His eyes close. His hand goes limp.

"No!" I scream. "Lucas! No!"

I shake him. I pound on his chest.

"Don't you dare die on me! Don't you dare!"

But he doesn't move.

Thorne took a bullet for me. Again.