The hitman was intently focused on adjusting his camera mechanism, harnessing some discreet weapon inside, and opening the lens to target my Father, before checking a watch on his wrist, in waiting. He seemed to be taking his time.

  I yanked Jack’s arm, tugging him in the direction, using force that he hadn't seen before, and surprising him as he looked back at me with a bewildered stare plastered across his face.

  “What?” Jack whispered, as I turned my head up and nodded urgently in the direction, trying to act with expediency, but not to flag the hitman into action yet, knowing that there might be some time to take him down without spurring something disastrous in Dad's direction.

  Jack’s eyes glazed over with recognition as he followed quickly, slipping past others in our row to make way outside and up around into the other level, shuffling past large tripods and journalists who watched the events behind us intently.

  Dad’s speech continued on in the background, as we climbed, while I caught him stammering momentarily when I rose over the steps back into the auditorium, as we linked eyes, him noticing our hurried exit and expecting things were afoot, assuredly.

  “Kenzo Nanamin.” He started up again. “A former friend, a leader in industry, has been manipulating and deceiving the public for years. He helped stray me from the course of what’s good and right. For that, I cannot forgive him. I cannot forgive myself. I will be handing over everything I know and have to authorities, and I do have the paper trails, I assure you.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I felt my heart pumping rapidly in my chest as we worked our way around and hurtled up the steps, ascending to the next level, hearing his speech and knowing we were running out of time. Why had they taken so long to attack? It’s almost like the hitman was waiting for something.

  We pushed by some attendants who tried to stop us and ask about seating, while showing our badges in pursuit.

  “I may not be able to atone for everything I’ve done,” Dad continued, finding me in the crowd, once more, and almost speaking to me as I rose out into the uppermost level. “But I will try. I’m so sorry, for all of the pain I’ve caused you,” tears welled up in his eyes, and my own. “I—“ he mouthed ‘love you’” before stifling up. I repeated the words back to him in a fog.

  Jack spotted the hitman and raced down the steps cat like, the hitman turning to hear the footsteps.

  I could see it playing out in slow motion, as Jack rushed for the hitman,closing on his row.

  “This organization,” Dad charged on, vitriol forming in his lungs, “there are others that will be brought to justice as we bring them from the darkness, into the light!”

  BANG!

  Dad shook instantly, a red streak of mist dissipating past his head, before he slumped to the side and fell to the floor, his head ricocheting off of it with a thunderous crack in the hall.

  The crowd stirred into a frenzy and chaotically tried to make way for the exits.

  I stood frozen, watching Dad on the floor, life drained from his eyes as a pool of blood seeped on the light paneled wood floor from his head.

  The frantic murmurs increased as droves of people pushed past me in escape, shouldering me and knocking me to the floor.

  “Ari!” I heard Jack scream from a distance. “Ari!”

  I shielded my face with my arms as people stepped over me, when suddenly, a head appeared through the crowd and hovered over me.

  It was the sardonic grin of the hitman.