Chapter 6 - The Brother's Return
Julian stood in the wreckage of the hallway, breathing heavily.
His face was pale, lined with new scars, and his left arm hung at an awkward angle.
Dominic stared at his younger brother, frozen in absolute disbelief.
"Julian," Dominic breathed, lowering his fists slowly.
Before they could embrace, Julian pointed a bloody finger at his older brother.
"Are they safe?" Julian asked, his voice rough and damaged.
Dominic nodded, stepping aside to reveal Hannah standing in the doorway of the vault.
Hannah let out a heartbreaking sob and ran out of the bunker.
She threw her arms around Julian, weeping uncontrollably against his chest.
Julian closed his eyes, burying his face in her hair.
"I am so sorry I left you," Julian whispered brokenly.
Grace babbled loudly from Hannah’s arms, reaching out for the strange man.
Julian looked down at his daughter for the very first time.
Tears spilled from his gray eyes as he gently touched her tiny cheek.
Dominic watched the reunion, but his tactical mind refused to rest.
"How did you get past my security?" Dominic interrupted, breaking the emotional moment.
"Your security is dead, Dom," Julian stated flatly, looking up.
"The Morettis sent a hit squad to clear the estate while Sterling distracted you."
Dominic cursed under his breath, realizing his fortress had truly fallen.
"We need to leave right now," Julian warned, grabbing Hannah’s hand.
"Their boss, Carlo Moretti, is waiting at the docks to take delivery of the child."
"He thinks Sterling is bringing her."
Dominic retrieved his gun from the broken vault gears and reloaded it.
"Then we are going to the docks," Dominic declared coldly.
"We run, we hide," Julian argued.
"We don't have an army anymore, Dominic."
"I don't need an army to kill Carlo Moretti," Dominic promised.
They moved quickly through the ruined mansion, stepping over the bodies of fallen guards.
They reached the underground garage and climbed into a heavily armored black SUV.
Dominic took the wheel, smashing through the damaged steel gates of the estate.
He drove like a madman through the city streets, heading toward the industrial harbor.
The rain began to fall heavily, slicking the dark roads.
"When we get there, you stay in the car with them," Dominic ordered his brother.
"I am coming with you," Julian insisted, gripping a stolen pistol.
They arrived at Pier 44, stopping behind a stack of massive shipping containers.
Dominic stepped out into the rain, his gun drawn and ready.
He walked silently through the maze of metal crates, hunting for Carlo Moretti.
He turned a corner and froze completely in his tracks.
A dozen heavily armed Moretti men were standing in a circle under the floodlights.
But they were not waiting for Arthur Sterling.
They were pointing their weapons at a woman tied to a wooden chair in the center.
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Dominic recognized the hostage instantly.
It was his own mother, whom he had placed in a secure nursing home three years ago.
