Chapter 14 - The Final Reckoning
The explosion blew the heavy cedar doors inward, sending splinters and smoke ripping through the boathouse.
Three heavily armed mercenaries in night-vision goggles charged through the smoke, their weapons raised.
Rafe fired from behind the upturned workbench, dropping the lead gunman instantly. But the second mercenary returned fire with a short-barrel shotgun, the blast splintering the heavy wooden bench and sending Rafe sprawling onto his back, his sidearm knocked across the floorboards.
The third mercenary lunged forward, leveling his rifle directly at Vivia, who was clutching the silk dress against the far wall. "Hand over the documents, girl!"
Before the mercenary could squeeze the trigger, a dark silhouette burst through the side window like a thunderbolt.
It was Nico.
He tackled the gunman into the concrete boat slip, the sheer force of the impact shattering the rifle’s composite stock against the iron mooring cleats. Nico drove a savage right cross into the man's jaw, followed by an unyielding chokehold that neutralized the mercenary in seconds.
The shotgun-wielding gunman spun toward Nico, racking a fresh shell—
Bang!
Rafe, pulling a backup snub-nosed revolver from his ankle holster, fired a single clean shot. The final mercenary collapsed into the dark water of the lake with a heavy splash.
Silence returned to the boathouse, broken only by the crackle of burning cedar and the heavy, ragged breathing of the three siblings.
Nico climbed out of the boat slip, water dripping from his black tactical jacket. He walked over to Rafe, extending a hand and hauling his brother to his feet. "You alright?"
"Bruised ribs, but still breathing," Rafe coughed, wiping soot from his brow. "That's the last of Rostov's private crew. Federal marshals just raided their safehouses across three states."
Vivia stepped forward from the shadows. The silk dress in her hands was dusted with drywall powder, but completely intact. She looked at her two older brothers, her eyes steady, fierce, and unwavering.
May you like
"It's finished," Vivia said softly. "They have nothing left to take from us."
Nico looked down at the old gown, then up at his brother and sister. A quiet, unshakeable resolve settled over his face. "Pack up the estate. We're going home."
