Chapter 8 - Reckoning at the Edge of the WorldA barrage of heavy boots thundered down the stone stairs as Uncle Victor and three remaining mercenaries swarmed the lower cavern entrance.
"Vale!" Victor bellowed, stepping into the dim light of the sea cave, a submachine gun raised and ready. "Running into a hole doesn't save you from the grave!"
"You talk too much, Uncle," Adrian's voice echoed from the shadows near the back of the cave.
"Flush them out!" Victor ordered.
As the mercenaries rushed forward, Adrian stepped into the open, drawing their immediate gunfire. Bullets sparked off the rocks as he dove behind a massive stone pillar, returning fire with calculated precision. Two mercenaries dropped instantly, clutching their legs and shoulders.
Victor cursed loudly, stepping into the fray with his weapon raised directly toward Adrian's chest. "It ends here, nephew. The family dies with you."
Just as Victor pulled the trigger, a sharp crack echoed from the side shadows.
Bang.
The bullet struck the concrete wall inches from Victor’s ear, thrown off course. Victor whipped his head around in shock.
Standing on an upper ledge with the heavy pistol gripped firmly in both hands was Evelyn. Her eyes were locked on him with cold, unshakable fury.
Distracted for a split second, Victor lowered his guard. That was all the opening Adrian needed. With a fierce roar, Adrian leaped from behind his pillar, tackling Victor violently to the ground. The machine gun flew from Victor’s hands, skittering across the stone floor and splashing into the dark, churning ocean below.
A brutal, savage brawl ensued on the wet rock. Punches echoed off the cave walls, the two men trading blows born of years of hatred and betrayal. But Victor, older and slower, quickly found himself overpowered by Adrian’s desperate, furious strength.
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Adrian pinned his uncle to the ground, his forearm pressing hard against Victor’s windpipe until the older man stopped struggling, losing consciousness.
Silence descended upon the sea cave, broken only by the rhythmic crashing of the waves against the dock.
