Chapter 18 - The Shadow of the Past
"Drop your weapon!"
Federal agents smashed through the iron grates at the end of the storm drain, their red laser sights dotting Lydia's chest.
Lydia looked around frantically. She saw the agents closing in, saw the red laser sights covering her body, and saw Dominic standing tall, his hand wrapped firmly around mine.
"I won't go to prison!" Lydia screamed.
In a final act of pure, unadulterated madness, she pointed her weapon not at Dominic, but directly at me!
BANG!
A gun fired.
But it wasn't Lydia's gun.
Dominic had moved with blinding speed, pulling a tiny, hidden derringer pistol from his sleeve and firing a single shot.
The bullet struck Lydia's shoulder, knocking her off her feet, sending her handgun skittering across the wet concrete floor into the river drain.
Federal agents swarmed her instantly, pinning her to the floor and slamming heavy iron handcuffs onto her wrists.
"Lydia Vale," Prosecutor Miller stepped out from behind the tactical team, looking down at the bloody, sobbing woman. "You are under arrest for conspiracy, murder, and high treason."
Lydia was dragged away, her hysterical screams fading into the dark concrete tunnels until there was only silence.
Prosecutor Miller walked up to Dominic and me. He looked at the bloody wedding dress, then at Dominic's torn suit.
"The evidence on that drive is absolute, Mr. Vale," Miller said, taking a deep breath. "It clears you of the cartel war charges, and it completely dismantles Vincenzo's network. But Chicago is burning out there. Your entire empire is gone."
Dominic wiped the blood from his brow, looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
"I didn't lose an empire, Miller," Dominic said softly. "I burned a prison."
May you like
Miller stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "You have twenty-four hours to leave the state. If I see you in Illinois after tomorrow, I will arrest you myself."
"You won't see us again," Dominic said.
