Chapter 9 - The Sky on Fire
The massive Gatling gun spun up with a terrifying, high-pitched mechanical whine that cut through the sound of the rain. I tackled Elena and Lily violently behind the heavy steel wheels of the armored SUV just in the nick of time. A torrential, unstoppable rain of heavy-caliber bullets shredded the asphalt exactly where we had been standing moments before. The relentless gunfire tore through Dante's surrendered mercenaries, slaughtering them instantly without a single ounce of mercy. The Russians were aggressively cleaning house, leaving absolutely no living witnesses to their hostile, violent takeover of Chicago. I peeked out cautiously from behind the thick rubber tire, watching Dante and Sarah desperately board their luxurious private jet. The aircraft’s powerful engines roared aggressively as it began to rapidly accelerate down the dark, rain-slicked runway. I knew that if they escaped with that money and their lives, they would never stop hunting my new family. I grabbed an abandoned rocket-propelled grenade launcher that had been dropped by one of the dead mercenaries on the tarmac. I hoisted the heavy, cumbersome weapon onto my shoulder and stepped boldly out into the completely open line of fire. The Russian helicopter gunner immediately swung his heavy weapon toward me, unleashing a furious barrage of bullets. I ignored the burning shrapnel grazing my arms and focused entirely on the escaping jet hurtling down the runway. I pulled the heavy trigger, sending the rocket streaking across the dark airfield with a blinding trail of orange fire. The explosive slammed directly into the private jet's right turbine engine with absolutely perfect, devastating accuracy. A massive, towering fireball illuminated the dark night sky as the aircraft spun violently out of aerodynamic control. The jet crashed heavily into the steel perimeter fence, crumbling instantly into a heap of burning, twisted metal. Dante and Sarah were finally dead, their treacherous, greedy reign brought to a violent, fiery, and permanent end. I quickly reloaded the heavy launcher with a second rocket and aimed it directly at the hovering Russian helicopter. The Russian pilot panicked visibly, banking the massive chopper aggressively to evade my incoming, deadly shot. I fired again, striking the fragile tail rotor perfectly and sending the massive machine spinning uncontrollably toward the earth. The helicopter crashed violently into the main hangar, exploding in a spectacular, deafening display of absolute destruction. The night finally fell entirely silent, broken only by the soft crackle of burning jet fuel and the hiss of the rain. I dropped the empty, smoking weapon and rushed back immediately to check on Elena and the little girl. They were clutching each other tightly, trembling with residual fear, but entirely unharmed by the incredible violence. "It is finally over," I promised them softly, gently wiping a streak of dirt from Lily's tear-stained cheek. Suddenly, the broken radio in the armored SUV crackled to life with a thick, heavy Russian accent piercing the static. "You have killed my men, Victor Rossi, but you will never truly escape the wrath of the Syndicate."
