Chapter 11 – The Choice Harrison Never Expected
Harrison forced Tyler downstairs and out onto the terrace.
Natalie stepped from behind the stone wall when she saw the gun against her son.
Reed tried to stop her.
She kept walking.
“Let him go.”
Harrison almost laughed.
“You still think you can negotiate with me.”
“I’m not negotiating.”
“You have something I need.”
“The card?”
“And the drive.”
Natalie removed the black card from her coat and held it up.
Harrison’s eyes followed it.
“Send Tyler to me.”
“Put the card on the ground.”
“No.”
The security guards stood near the entrance, but they looked uncertain. They had been hired to protect a financial executive, not participate in the kidnapping of a child.
Victor appeared behind Harrison.
His face was pale.
Reed called out from the driveway.
“Victor Dane, Harrison plans to blame the entire laundering operation on you. We have the contingency documents.”
Harrison did not look back.
“He’s lying.”
Reed continued.
“We also have recordings from the Zurich bank. Harrison told the trustees you acted without authorization.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward Harrison.
“You said we were protected.”
“We are.”
“You said the accounts would be transferred before anyone could trace them.”
“Victor, be quiet.”
Natalie saw the moment fear became betrayal.
Victor reached for Harrison’s gun.
Harrison turned and fired.
Victor fell onto the terrace.
Tyler drove his elbow into Harrison’s ribs and broke free.
Natalie ran.
Harrison grabbed for Tyler, but Natalie reached him first and pulled him behind her.
Harrison raised the gun.
Reed fired once.
The bullet struck Harrison’s shoulder and spun him backward.
The gun slid across the stone.
Swiss officers entered through the gates.
Harrison dropped to one knee, holding his injured arm.
Even then, he did not look defeated.
He looked offended.
“You have no idea what you’ve destroyed,” he said.
Natalie held Tyler against her.
“No,” she replied. “You have no idea what he saved.”
Victor was still alive.
As paramedics worked on him, he asked for Reed.
“I’ll testify,” he whispered. “Everything. The judges, the banks, the pension funds.”
Harrison heard him.
“You coward.”
Victor managed a weak smile.
“You were right about one thing. Everyone chooses the future they think they deserve.”
Tyler buried his face against Natalie’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She held him tighter.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I said those things in court.”
“You were protecting me.”
“I thought you’d hate me.”
Natalie pulled back and looked into his bruised face.
“I could never hate you.”
“But I chose him.”
“No,” she said. “You went with him.”
Tyler’s eyes filled with tears.
“That isn’t the same as choosing him.”
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Behind them, officers placed Harrison in handcuffs.
For the first time in thirteen years, Harrison Vale had no one left to command.
