Chapter 10 - Bloodline Broken
The foyer descended into total pandemonium as Leo and his team systematically dismantled Ricardo’s remaining security detail. Flashbangs blinded the mercenaries, while Gabriel’s men moved with clinical military brutality, disarming and subduing the hostiles within sixty seconds.
Ricardo backed away toward the open front doors, his silver pistol shaking in his hand as he watched his expensive private army crumble around him. When he turned to run into the rain toward his waiting helicopter, a massive silhouette blocked his path.
Gabriel had descended the stairs. He stood between Ricardo and the escape route, baby Arthur securely cradled against his body, untouched by the chaos.
"Back off, Gabriel!" Ricardo shrieked, raising his weapon toward Gabriel’s head. "I'll pull this trigger! I swear to God I'll blow your brains out right in front of your kid!"
Gabriel didn't even flinch. His dark eyes remained fixed on Ricardo’s trembling fingers. "You don't have the stomach for it, Ricardo. You hire mercenaries to do your killing. You poison doctors. You abuse helpless women in locked rooms. You’re nothing but a parasite living off a grandfather who hated your very existence."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Ricardo screamed, his finger tightening on the trigger.
In a blur of motion, Gabriel knocked the barrel aside with his left forearm as the gunshot blasted harmlessly into the ceiling. With his right hand, Gabriel gripped Ricardo by the throat, lifting his half-brother completely off his feet and slamming him into the marble pillar.
Ricardo choked, his eyes bulging as the air was cut off from his lungs. The silver pistol dropped to the floor with a hollow clatter.
"You took my son," Gabriel growled, his voice vibrating with primeval rage. "You beat my wife. You stole my name."
Elena stepped forward onto the lower steps, holding the shotgun low. "Gabriel, don't."
Gabriel glanced back at her.
"Don't kill him here," Elena said, her voice steady and clear. "Death is too easy for him. Let him watch everything he stole burn to ash from inside a prison cell. Let him see his empire fall."
Gabriel stared into Ricardo’s terrified, suffocating face. He slowly lowered him to the floor, releasing his throat. Ricardo collapsed onto his hands and knees, coughing violently and clutching his bruised neck.
Leo stepped forward, immediately zip-tying Ricardo’s wrists behind his back with reinforced steel flex-cuffs. "I'll secure the trash, Commander."
Gabriel walked back to Elena, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as baby Arthur cooed softly, reaching a tiny hand out to touch his father’s jaw.
"It's over," Elena whispered, burying her face into Gabriel’s chest.
May you like
"Not yet," Gabriel said, looking toward the flashing red and blue lights appearing on the winding mountain road below. Marcus Vance’s armored convoy was arriving, but behind them were three federal vehicles displaying the insignia of the Department of Justice.
Marcus stepped out of the lead vehicle, holding an encrypted satellite phone. "Gabriel! We intercepted Victoria’s communications! She’s liquidating Vance Conglomerate’s offshore holdings and boarding a private jet at Metro International! If she takes off, five billion dollars disappears into Swiss black accounts, and your name remains tarnished forever!"
