Chapter 10 - The Driver's Choice
The beam of the flashlight was blinding. Ethan shielded Noah with his body, his muscles tensing for a desperate, suicidal lunge.
""Step aside, Ethan,"" the chauffeur said. His name was Thomas. He was an older man, a retired marine who had served the Sterling family for over fifteen years. His voice was steady, but the hand holding the weapon seemed uncharacteristically rigid.
""You watched me grow up, Thomas,"" Ethan said, his voice echoing off the damp concrete walls. ""You drove me to school. You drove me to my father's office when he had his stroke. Are you really going to execute a woman and a newborn baby in a sewer?""
Thomas didn't lower the gun. ""Mr. Sterling has trackers in every vehicle. If I don't report this contract fulfilled, my own granddaughter's medical trust fund will be revoked by midnight. You don't understand the reach of that man.""
""I understand he is a monster!"" Ethan roared, stepping boldly into the light, exposing his own chest. ""Shoot me, then! Shoot me right here. But let her walk away with my son!""
""No, Ethan!"" Claire cried from the shadows, struggling to stand.
Thomas's eyes flickered toward the bundled infant peeking from Ethan's jacket. Noah let out a soft, tiny sneeze in the cold, damp air.
The sound seemed to crack the old man's hardened facade. His finger tightened on the trigger, his jaw working furiously.
""They tapped your friend's phone,"" Thomas said quietly, his voice dropping to a gravelly murmur. ""They know about the safehouse at the old rail yard. If you go there, you will be walking into an ambush.""
Ethan froze. ""What?""
Thomas slowly lowered the pistol. He reached into his tactical vest, pulled out a heavy set of keys and an encrypted satellite phone, and threw them at Ethan’s feet.
""Take my service vehicle parked at the emergency pumping station at the end of this tunnel,"" Thomas said, his face shadowed in the darkness. ""The transponder has been disabled for thirty minutes. After that, Richard will realize I haven't checked in.""
Ethan stared at the keys in disbelief. ""Thomas... why?""
""Because your mother was the only person in that entire damn family who treated my late wife with dignity,"" Thomas whispered, his eyes hardening with sudden resolve. ""Now get the hell out of here before the other two catch up.""
Before Ethan could say another word, the sound of splashing footsteps echoed from further up the tunnel. The other two mercenaries were closing in.
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Thomas turned around, raising his weapon toward the tunnel entrance. ""Run, Ethan! Go!""
A loud burst of unsuppressed gunfire erupted behind them, lighting the dark corridor with muzzle flashes. Ethan grabbed Claire, scooped up the keys, and sprinted toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
