Chapter 10 - Turning the Tide
Gabriel cut the engine to an idle, turning to look at Elena with a mixture of disbelief and respect. ""Turn around? Elena, you barely escaped with your life. You have the files. We can deliver the evidence to the Attorney General's office and let the federal marshals handle them.""
""By nine a.m., Julian and Cole will have shredded the physical bonds, wiped the local drives, and boarded a flight to an unextradited jurisdiction,"" Elena stated coldly, her eyes fixed on the distant city lights. ""Federal investigations take months, sometimes years. He will spend that time hiring assassins to hunt Maya and me down until we are both dead. The only way my daughter ever sleeps peacefully again is if Julian Vance is utterly destroyed tonight.""
Gabriel stared at her for a long moment. Slowly, a dark, approving grin touched his scarred face. ""She really is Arthur Sterling’s daughter.""
Marcus leaned forward, nodding grimly. ""If we go back, we can't use the front entrance or the elevators. Cole travels with a tactical team of ex-mercenaries. But there is an old industrial maintenance freight lift that connects directly to the private wine cellar beneath Julian’s study. It was built during prohibition. It has no digital monitors.""
""We secure Maya first,"" Elena commanded. ""Sarah takes Maya to Clara’s secure countryside property. Not a single person here moves until my daughter is safe behind reinforced steel.""
An hour later, in a secluded rural boathouse, Elena held Maya tightly one last time. Maya looked up at her mother with wide, solemn hazel eyes. The swelling on her shoulders was treated, but the pain lingered in her delicate posture.
""Mommy, are you coming back?"" the little girl asked in a soft, trembling whisper.
Elena kissed her forehead, smiling with absolute, unconditional love. ""Mommy is going to finish the storm, my love. When I come back, the monsters will be gone forever. I promise.""
Elena handed Maya over to Sarah, who wrapped the child in a heavy coat and escorted her toward an armored transport. As the taillights disappeared into the dark country road, Elena turned back to Gabriel, Clara, and Marcus.
May you like
She stripped off the soaking, torn crimson gown, changing into dark tactical utility clothing Marcus provided from his trunk. She buckled a leather holster around her waist.
""Let's go burn a dynasty,"" Elena said.
