When Duty Kills

The next time I woke, it was to Erica shaking me violently.

"Andrew! Wake up! Why has Mike's bomb started ticking again? Didn't you already defuse it?!"

My right hand was still numb, like it no longer belonged to me.

I looked at the woman in front of me, teetering on the edge of hysteria, and let out a cold laugh.

"That kind of complex device needs continuous monitoring. How could one attempt possibly solve everything?"

"You—!"

She grabbed my arm tightly.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

The next second, as if remembering something, she yanked up my left hand and tried to drag me outside.

"Come on! We need to stabilize the bomb now! Otherwise, Liam's life is over!"

"Erica!" I roared with everything I had left. "My hand is already gone!"

She froze. Her gaze slowly dropped to my right arm. Her pupils contracted sharply.

"It's… it's okay," she said, her voice barely audible. "One hand is enough."

She stared into my eyes as if clutching at her last shred of hope.

"You're so capable—you can do it with one hand, right?"

I slapped her hard across the face. My whole body trembled uncontrollably.

"You actually believe that nonsense about one-handed bomb disposal?!"

Her eyes unfocused as she murmured to herself, "No… Liam said it was possible…"

Suddenly, she grabbed my ruined hand. Ignoring how I curled up in pain, she pleaded desperately, "Just try, Andrew—please, just try! If you don't go, Liam is really finished!"

At that moment, the door was kicked open from the outside. A tall man stood in the doorway, his face dark with fury.

"What have you done to my son?"

Mayor Bowser's voice dripped with killing intent. Behind him, Liam was being held by two bodyguards, blood at the corner of his mouth.

I looked past Mayor Bowser.

"Chief Johnson."

Chief Johnson's gaze fell on my ruined right hand, and he froze in shock.

Mayor Bowser pressed a heavy hand onto the police chief's shoulder.

"Are you going to tell me yourselves, or should I investigate?"

The police chief shuddered.

I raised my left hand and pointed at Liam.

"He insisted on defusing the bomb with one hand. He triggered the fuse by mistake—that's why the device reactivated!"

"That's nonsense!" the police chief suddenly cut in sharply. "It was clearly you trying to show off by copying that one-handed technique! When you messed up, you destroyed your own right hand and tried to frame Liam!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Chief Johnson stepped closer, lowering his voice as he spoke rapidly, "I'm sorry, Andrew. But your hand is already ruined. Liam's future, on the other hand, is limitless. Our previous agreement is void."

The last trace of a smile vanished from Mayor Bowser's face.

"Bring four vehicles. Tie this cripple's limbs to them. I want to see just how many pieces a man can be torn into."

His gaze shifted, catching sight of my limp right hand. He arched a brow with a cold sneer.

"Hah. Forgot—you've already lost one hand. Then tie the rope to his neck."

The bodyguards actually brought ropes, binding my limbs—and my neck—to four off-road vehicles.

I struggled desperately, but Erica stood nearby, murmuring softly, "Just endure it, Andrew. Mayor Bowser is only trying to scare you. He won't really hurt you."

Before she could finish, Liam suddenly cried out in pain.

Without a second thought, Erica turned and ran to him.

Engines roared to life. With the last of my strength, I shouted, "I'm not the one who harmed your son! I have evidence!"

Mayor Bowser's eyes sharpened. He raised his hand sharply.

All the vehicles cut their engines at once.

He walked toward me step by step, then bent down, staring straight into my eyes.

"You get one chance."