Page 203 - Demo

202 JAGGEDEDGE
men dashed into the room next to the one he and Kevin pre- pared to storm.
“Go!” Seige urged, and both dove into the room first criss- crossing then rolling to a prone firing position.
Kevin dropped the man standing as the victim lying on the floor rolled from his side onto his back. Seige recognized the team’s director.
At this point the team was set to clear the ground floor, but Seige laid down his weapon and sat on the floor cradling Mat- thew, his boss.
Another team of two men came into the open door to set up security when Kevin ran to the hallway and shouted, “Doc, come quick!” to Visara.
Visara, holding her side, ran the few steps to the room. Open- ing Matthew’s shirt quickly, she realized he was mortally wounded. Slowly she shook her head regretfully to Seige.
“Everybody out!” Seige shouted with tears in his eyes.
“Son,” Mathew muttered, “there’s no denying it. I fucked up.”
“Shhh!” Seige whispered, cradling Matthew in his arms. “Save your strength.”
“No,” Matthew managed to mumble while coughing. “We both know I’m not going to make it, so don’t kid an old man. Corin and I became partners when his chemistry degree led to solid ideas for us to make money with drugs. They were legiti- mate when we started, but I suspected he had other plans all along. I just didn’t act on them. Seige, when I created the task force, I never meant for all of this to happen. But it had to be done. The bastard’s my son. I found out just before we became partners. Still I know it’s no excuse. I hope all the guys and families can forgive me for being weak. I just didn’t have the heart to challenge him. He wasn’t always like this, but some people can’t resist greed.”
Matthew passed Seige a picture then exhaled dying in his arms. Seige took the picture and stared at it for a few seconds as