Chapter 19 - Ashes and Authority
Morosco’s face turned the color of ash. The cigar fell from his mouth, rolling across the ruined marble floor.
"You... you're insane," he choked out.
"No," I said, my voice cold as winter ice. "I'm a father who just got his daughter back. And anyone who tries to take her away from me again doesn't get a second warning."
Marcus materialized out of the smoke beside us, hauling Morosco up by his collar and slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists before slamming him against the nearest standing pillar.
"The perimeter is clear, Boss," Marcus reported, spitting a drop of blood onto the floor. "The second wave saw what happened to the vanguard and scattered into the woods. We caught three of them trying to flank the garage."
"Tie them up in the courtyard," I ordered, standing up and straightening my ruined suit jacket. "Call the federal prosecutor who handled Vincent's case. Tell him Salvatore Morosco surrendered himself during an unprovoked terrorist attack on private property. Make sure the paperwork is airtight before breakfast."
"Done," Marcus grinned grimly.
I turned and walked toward the grand staircase, ignoring the wreckage around me, and made my way down the corridor toward the sub-vault entrance.
When I punched the passcode into the steel door, it hissed open immediately.
Grace was standing just inside, holding a submachine gun in one hand while Chloe and Amara sat safely on a stack of storage crates eating crackers.
When Chloe saw me step through the smoke-stained doorway, her face lit up.
May you like
"Daddy!" she cried, scrambling off the crate and running into my arms.
I dropped to my knees, scooping her up and burying my face in her dark curls, squeezing her tight as the last remnants of the morning's terror finally washed away.
