Chapter 9 - The Reckoning
The impact drove Damian to the floor with bone-crushing force.
Gideon did not use a gun.
He used his bare hands, driven by a father's absolute, unhinged fury.
He struck Damian repeatedly until the mercenary stopped moving entirely.
Gideon stood up, covered in glass and blood, breathing like a wild animal.
He looked at Maya and Leo, his dark eyes instantly softening into overwhelming relief.
"Are you hurt?" Gideon asked, rushing over to them.
"We are fine, but Elias is trapped downstairs," Maya said quickly.
Gideon took Leo from her arms, holding the boy tightly against his chest.
"The perimeter is clear, my backup teams just arrived and neutralized the rest of them," Gideon assured her.
They rushed downstairs and found Gideon's medics already pulling the timber off Elias.
The compound was secured, the traitors were dead, and the syndicate threat was finally eliminated.
As the sun began to rise over the Montana mountains, casting a golden light through the broken windows, Gideon sat on the couch with his family.
He looked around the ruined fortress that represented his entire violent life.
"I'm done," Gideon announced quietly, staring at his bloodstained hands.
Maya looked at him in surprise.
"I have enough money to hide us anywhere in the world," Gideon said, turning to look deeply into her eyes.
"I am dismantling the syndicate, handing the legitimate businesses to Elias, and walking away."
"I missed five years of my son's life, and I am not going to miss another day."
Tears of pure joy spilled down Maya's cheeks.
She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling the heavy burden of the past five years finally lift.
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They had survived the fire, and they were finally free.
Six months later.
