Chapter 7 - The Rescue at Blackwood Harbor
"Clear! Building secured!" Marcus shouted, his team swiftly cuffing the remaining guards and securing the perimeter.
Damen immediately dropped to his knees in front of Sophia. He pulled a tactical combat knife from Marcus’s vest and sliced through the heavy zip-ties binding her wrists and ankles.
The moment she was free, Sophia collapsed forward. Damen caught her in his arms, wrapping his coat around her shivering shoulders, holding her firmly against his chest.
"I have you," Damen whispered into her hair. "You're safe. It's over."
Sophia clutched at his shirt sleeves with her bruised, bloodied fingers—the exact same gesture her daughter had made on the floor outside his office five hours earlier. She began to cry, deep, shuddering sobs that shook her entire body.
"I was so scared..." she choked out, her voice broken. "I thought... I thought they were going to kill her..."
"They will never touch either of you again," Damen swore, his voice laced with absolute steel. "I give you my solemn word."
Marcus walked over, holding his radio. "Mr. Cole, federal agents and NYPD tactical units just breached the outer gates. I uploaded the contents of the flash drive directly to the United States Attorney General's office five minutes ago. Warrants are being executed right now at Harrison Sterling’s mansion in the Hamptons."
Damen looked down at Sophia, brushing a strand of wet hair away from her cut forehead. "Did you hear that? Sterling is going to prison for the rest of his life."
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Sophia looked up at him, her dark eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief, profound relief, and something deeper—a spark of reverence for the man who had torn down a criminal empire in a single night just to keep a promise to a maid.
"Take us home, Marcus," Damen said softly, lifting Sophia effortlessly into his arms. "Lily is waiting."
