Chapter 19 - The Final Confrontation
Gunfire shattered the night,
muzzle flashes illuminating the dark water,
as the FBI engaged Victor's men.
I covered my ears,
screaming,
as the van shook from the concussive blasts.
Through the window,
I saw Ethan run.
He dropped his briefcase,
bills flying into the wind,
as he bolted down the dock.
He jumped into a small speedboat,
fumbling with the keys,
desperate to start the engine.
The FBI agents were pinned down,
by the heavy fire from the SUV.
If Ethan started that boat,
he would disappear into the dark lake,
and we would never find him.
I couldn't let him get away.
Not after everything.
I unlocked the van door,
slipping out into the freezing rain,
ignoring Miller's shouts to stay inside.
I ran down the wooden pier,
the planks slick with water and oil.
Ethan finally got the engine to roar,
the boat moving away from the dock.
I leaped.
I threw my body forward,
landing hard on the fiberglass deck,
pain shooting through my shoulder.
Ethan spun around,
his eyes wide with terror,
as the boat sped into the open water.
"Emma!"
he screamed,
steering with one hand,
trying to push me off.
I scrambled up,
grabbing the steering wheel,
yanking it hard to the left.
The boat tilted violently,
waves crashing over the bow.
"You ruined my life!"
I yelled,
striking him across the face.
He hit me back,
knocking me to the deck,
his face twisted with pure hatred.
"I built everything!"
he shouted.
"You were nothing without me!"
He reached for a metal pipe on the floor,
raising it above his head,
ready to strike.
I didn't cower.
I reached out,
and grabbed the emergency engine kill-switch lanyard,
wrapped around his wrist.
I yanked it hard.
The plastic clip popped out.
The engine died instantly.
The boat slammed into a concrete breakwater,
the impact throwing Ethan forward,
crashing through the windshield.
He lay motionless,
bleeding,
trapped in the shattered glass.
I stood up,
bruised and battered,
but alive.
The sirens faded in the distance,
as police boats approached,
May you like
blue lights reflecting on the water.
It was finally over.
