Chapter 14 - The Choice Dominic Made
Marcus fired at the glass.
The round struck reinforced material and flattened.
Arthur walked away.
Dominic ran toward the control panel.
“I know this system.”
Luca stared at him.
“How?”
“I paid for it.”
Of course he had.
Dominic opened the electrical cabinet.
“Emergency suppression can stop the ignition.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“You have nine minutes.”
“Then stop asking questions.”
Maya looked at Luca.
“Can we help?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Elena said.
Luca turned.
Elena pointed toward the monitors.
“There is a building map.”
Maya and Tommy had spent weeks exploring the edges of the estate.
Children understood layouts differently.
Maya studied the map.
“The tunnel goes outside.”
Marcus looked.
She was right.
A drainage passage ran beneath the old pool.
“Elena, take her.”
Elena did not argue.
This time, Luca was not trying to control her.
He was trying to get his child out.
Maya hesitated.
“What about you?”
“I’ll follow.”
“You promise?”
Luca thought about Elena’s demand.
Honest when it costs something.
“I’m going to try.”
Maya looked unhappy.
But she nodded.
Marcus led them toward the tunnel.
Luca stayed with Dominic.
“You should go.”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“Twelve years late for courage.”
Luca said nothing.
Dominic pulled wires from the panel.
“I told myself I was protecting you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
“Yes.”
A spark jumped.
Dominic flinched.
“I hated you for making it easy.”
Luca frowned.
“What?”
“You adapted.”
Dominic stared at the circuitry.
“You learned to rule from that chair.”
“You stopped asking why.”
“Every year you became stronger, and every year it made my cowardice easier to hide.”
Luca looked at his uncle.
“You could have told me yesterday.”
“I know.”
“Last year.”
“I know.”
“Year three.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“I know.”
The countdown reached four minutes.
Dominic found the suppression relay.
Then footsteps echoed behind them.
Arthur.
He finally carried a gun.
Dominic turned.
Arthur fired once.
The bullet struck the panel beside Dominic.
Marcus was gone with Elena and Maya.
Luca was unarmed.
Arthur smiled.
“Sit down, Luca.”
Luca looked at the wheelchair.
Then at Arthur.
For twelve years, people had expected obedience whenever they saw that chair.
Luca gripped the parallel railing.
May you like
And stood.
Arthur’s smile vanished.
