Chapter 5 - Ghosts in the Rain
Victor Cole raised his lighter in a mock toast toward the shattered window, his face caught in the orange flare. He didn't run; he didn't draw a weapon. He simply smiled, turned, and disappeared down the fire escape stairs of the adjacent parking structure.
""Victor..."" Sal breathed, the word tasting like rust and ash.
""Dad?"" Elena whispered, trembling as the cold wind whipped her hair across her face. ""Who was that?""
""A ghost that should have stayed dead,"" Sal answered, his voice dropping an octave into absolute ruthlessness. He handed the baby to Frank. ""Frank, you and Marco wrap the boy in my coat. Take Elena down the exterior fire escape. My extraction chopper touches down on the rooftop in ninety seconds. Get them on board.""
""What about you, Boss?"" Frank asked, his eyes filled with concern.
""I have unfinished business in the parking garage.""
""Sal, please!"" Elena begged, clinging to his arm. ""Don't leave us! You came here to save us! If you go out there—""
""I came here to end this,"" Sal said, kissing her forehead gently. ""If I don't kill him tonight, Elena, you and that child will spend the rest of your lives looking over your shoulders. Every shadow, every babysitter, every knock on the door will be a threat. I won't let you live like that. Not like I did.""
He pulled his second magazine from his belt, slapping it into the Sig Sauer with a sharp clack.
Julian tried to pull himself toward Sal’s feet. ""Take me with you! Please, Sal! The chopper... let me on the chopper!""
Sal looked down at his daughter’s husband with cold disgust. ""You made your deal, Julian. The Vargas, Chicago, Victor... they all bought you. Let's see if they come back to collect the remains.""
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Leaving Julian whimpering on the floor, Sal swung his heavy frame out onto the window ledge, caught the maintenance ladder, and slid down into the alley below like an executioner descending from heaven.
The rain beat against his suit as his feet hit the asphalt. He cocked his weapon and stepped into the underground shadows of the parking deck.
