Chapter 7 - Shadows of the PastJulian dropped to his knees, the silver pistol slipping from his nerveless fingers and clattering into a puddle of dirty rainwater.
"Wait," Julian choked out, holding up a bloodied hand, panic scrambling his thoughts. "We can make a deal. I have money—millions! Stashed offshore accounts, real estate across the city! You want the whole syndicate? It's yours! Just don't—"
"Money?" Kayla interrupted, taking another measured step closer to him. "Richard didn't die for money, Julian. He died because he had a conscience. And for ten years, I played your game. I lived in the shadows, watched you destroy this neighborhood, and bit my tongue because I promised him I’d try to find peace."
She shook her head slowly, the cold rain matting her hair against her cheeks.
"Turns out, peace is overrated."
From the end of the street, the deep, familiar bark of a German Shepherd cut through the night air.
Julian froze. Down the sidewalk, walking side-by-side with fourteen-year-old Maisie and her brother Liam, came Cyrus. The massive dog trotted proudly, carrying the steel briefcase of cash in his jaws, his scarred face looking fierce yet strangely peaceful under the flickering streetlamps.
Maisie stopped walking, turning her sightless face directly toward where Kayla and Julian stood.
"He's right there, Mrs. Richard," Maisie called out clearly. "The monster is right where he belongs."
Julian’s face twisted with desperate rage. He lunged sideways toward a concealed ankle holster, his fingers clawing for a backup knife.
He didn't even make it halfway.
With two muffled thuds, Kayla’s pistol discharged. The bullets caught Julian square in the shoulders, spinning him around and dropping him flat onto the asphalt, screaming in agony as the rain washed a spreading crimson stain across the street.
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"You're a monster..." Julian gasped, clutching his shoulder, staring up at her in utter terror.
"No, Julian," Kayla said, standing over him, her expression an unreadable mask of absolute justice. "I'm the cleanup crew."
