Chapter 9 - The Fall of Voss Enterprises
Celeste scrambled across the floor in a panic, clutching her bleeding shoulder, her face pale with pure horror as she stared at the man she believed she had buried six months ago.
"Arthur... no... it's impossible..." she stammered, backing away like a cornered animal.
"You should have checked the pulse yourself, Celeste," Arthur said, advancing slowly, keeping the service revolver trained on her chest. "Instead of leaving the dirty work to your mercenary."
Celeste’s eyes darted down to the red detonator lying on the floor three feet away from her. With a desperate, feral shriek, she lunged for the device.
Nora didn't hesitate. She threw herself forward, tackling Celeste to the ground before her fingers could touch the red button. The two women crashed onto the cold concrete floor, fighting wildly for control of the detonator. Celeste clawed at Nora's face, her diamond rings scratching Nora's cheek, but Nora held on with iron strength, twisting Celeste's wrist until the detonator clattered harmlessly across the room and slid into a drain grate.
At that exact moment, the heavy concrete ceiling shook as a series of loud, thunderous explosions rocked the upper floors of the estate.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The main gates had been breached. Flashbang grenades echoed from the courtyard above, followed by the sound of breaking glass and heavy combat boots filling the hallways.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! DOWN ON THE GROUND! DON'T MOVE!" booming voices bellowed from the stairwell.
A dozen SWAT officers in full tactical gear, accompanied by federal agents with drawn weapons, swarmed into the sub-basement. Blue and red emergency lights flashed through the open door as agents immediately disarmed Celeste, pulling her hands behind her back and securing her in heavy steel handcuffs.
"Clear! Clear!" an agent shouted. "Securing the primary suspect!"
A tall man in an FBI tactical vest walked up to Arthur, extending his hand. "Good to see you standing, Mr. Vale. The perimeter is fully secured. We have all four board members in custody upstairs, and the local police captain has just been arrested at his residence."
Arthur nodded, dropping his revolver onto a nearby table. "Deactivate those thermite charges, Agent Miller. The override code is Celeste's corporate tax ID number."
Nora rushed back to the concrete pillar, pulling Eli out from his hiding spot. The little boy was crying, but they were tears of overwhelming relief. He looked past Nora and saw the tall, gray-haired man standing near the doorway.
"Daddy?" Eli whispered, his eyes going wide.
Arthur dropped his crutch, sinking to his knees despite the burning pain in his body. "Come here, my brave little man."
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Eli ran across the concrete floor, throwing his small arms around his father's neck. Arthur held his son tightly, burying his face in the boy's hair, tears streaming down his worn face.
Nora walked over, placing her hands on both of their shoulders, watching as the federal agents dragged a screaming, sobbing Celeste Voss out of the basement in chains—her wealth, her power, and her cruel empire completely destroyed forever.
