Chapter 10 - Collateral Damage
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“Get her out of here!” Arthur roared, drawing his weapon and aiming it directly at Vivien’s chest.
“Boss, she invoked a parley,” Leo shouted, stepping between Arthur and the terrified Croft heiress.
“I don't care about the old laws! She is the enemy!” Arthur snarled, his finger tightening on the trigger.
“Arthur, stop!” Chloe screamed, rushing forward and grabbing his arm. “She came to warn us! Her father has a mole inside your organization!”
Arthur hesitated, his chest heaving with rage. He looked at Chloe’s desperate face, slowly lowering the gun.
“Leo, take her to the holding cells in the basement,” Arthur ordered coldly. “She doesn't leave this building until the war is over.”
As Vivien was dragged away, Arthur’s encrypted phone buzzed violently. He answered it on speaker, his eyes still locked on Chloe.
“Boss,” a panicked voice crackled through the phone. It was the guard assigned to protect Chloe’s younger brother, Sam. “We’ve been hit. Croft’s men ambushed us at the diner. We held them off, but Sam took a bullet to the shoulder.”
Chloe let out a horrified shriek, her knees buckling.
Arthur caught her, holding her tightly against his side. “Is he alive?” Arthur demanded into the phone.
“Yes, sir. It’s a clean through-and-through. We’re en route to the underground clinic now.”
“Lock down the clinic. I’m on my way.”
Arthur hung up the phone. He looked at Chloe, guilt and fury warring in his expression. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I promised he would be safe.”
“I want to see him,” Chloe cried, grabbing his shirt. “Take me to the clinic, Arthur. Now.”
“It’s too dangerous to move you.”
“He is my brother!” Chloe yelled, her eyes blazing with a fierce, uncompromising fire. “If you don't take me to him, I will walk out the front door and find him myself.”
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Arthur stared at the woman who refused to be broken by his world. He nodded slowly.
“Get your coat,” Arthur said quietly. “We leave in two minutes.”
