Chapter 7 - Fire and Vengeance
Ten minutes later, the roar of a high-powered engine echoed up the driveway of the Lake Forest estate.
Dante’s black Suburban crashed through the ruined front gates, spinning out on the wet gravel in front of the main doors. Dante leaped out of the vehicle before it even came to a complete stop, his face pale with terror, his weapon drawn.
He charged down the ruined halls of his mansion, stepping over the bodies of fallen mercenaries, screaming her name into the dark.
“OLIVIA!”
He reached the subterranean bunker, his heart hammering in his throat like a trapped wild animal.
He burst through the blasted steel door.
Inside, the smoke was clearing.
Silas was sitting against the wall, a bandage tied around his chest, while Marcus and Jonah were helping Dr. Mercer tend to the other guards.
In the center of the room, sitting on the edge of a cot, was Olivia. She was holding Tommy and Lily in her arms, her clothes covered in soot and blood, her face bruised—but her eyes were clear, fierce, and alive.
Dante dropped his weapon. The steel clattered uselessly against the concrete.
He covered the distance between them in two massive strides, throwing his arms around Olivia and the two children, pulling them against his chest so hard he almost lifted them off the ground.
“You’re alive,” Dante choked out, his voice cracking with an emotion he had never shown in his entire life. “God help me, you’re alive...”
“I told you I’d protect our family,” Olivia whispered, burying her face in his neck, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders.
Dante pulled back slightly, looking down at Lorenzo’s lifeless body in the corner, then back at Olivia.
“Moretti is waiting at the North Side docks,” Dante said, his voice returning to a cold, razor-sharp edge. “He thinks Lorenzo succeeded. He’s preparing to board a cargo ship for South America with his remaining lieutenants.”
Olivia reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded ledger parchment and the micro-key that Ruth had left behind. She placed them into Dante’s hand.
“End it, Dante,” Olivia said softly. “End it so these kids never have to hide in the dark again.”
Dante looked down at the key, then at the six children who were now watching him with wide, trusting eyes. Little Tommy reached out and tugged on Dante’s sleeve.
“Are you going to beat the bad guys, Daddy?” Tommy asked softly.
May you like
Dante dropped to one knee, looking the five-year-old boy straight in the eye.
“I’m going to make sure they never come back, Tommy,” Dante promised softly. He reached out and gently squeezed Olivia’s hand. “Wait for me here. One last time.”
