Chapter 9 - The Final Betrayal
Dominic's men immediately opened fire on the catwalk.
The FBI agents returned fire, filling the freezing meatpacking plant with deafening noise.
I ducked behind a steel pillar as bullets sparked off the metal railing around me.
Down on the floor, chaos reigned supreme.
Dominic's guards were dropping one by one under the superior tactical fire of the federal agents.
Dominic realized his empire was completely crumbling.
He dropped the crowbar and pulled his silver revolver, aiming directly at Vincent's head.
"If I go down, you go down with me," Dominic screamed over the gunfire.
He cocked the hammer back.
I didn't wait for the FBI snipers to take the shot.
I grabbed a dropped rifle from a wounded agent next to me.
I had never fired a gun in my life, but my hands were completely steady.
I aimed through the iron sights, centering on Dominic's chest, and pulled the trigger.
The rifle kicked hard against my bruised shoulder.
Dominic gasped, dropping his revolver as a dark red stain spread across his pristine white shirt.
He stumbled backward, looking up at me with absolute disbelief.
Then he collapsed onto the concrete floor, completely motionless.
The remaining guards threw their weapons down and surrendered immediately.
Agent Carter and her team rushed down the stairs to secure the building.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me toward Vincent.
He was barely conscious, his breathing shallow and ragged.
Carter used bolt cutters to snap the heavy chains holding him up.
Vincent collapsed heavily into my arms.
"You came back," he whispered, a faint smile touching his bloody lips.
"I told you I wouldn't leave you," I cried, pressing my hand against his cheek.
Paramedics rushed into the building with a stretcher, pulling him away from me.
"Is he going to make it?" I asked the medic frantically.
"He lost a lot of blood, but he's tough. He'll live," the paramedic assured me.
I watched as they loaded him into the back of an ambulance.
Agent Carter placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"You did good today," she said quietly.
"With that USB drive, we have enough to dismantle the entire Vesceri syndicate."
The nightmare was finally over.
I rode in the front of the ambulance, watching the morning sun fully rise over Chicago.
For the first time in five years, I didn't feel like a terrified maid hiding in the shadows.
I felt like a mother who had fought the devil and won.
We arrived at the hospital, and I was immediately reunited with Ellie and Isabella.
Isabella ran to me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist.
"Is Daddy okay?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.
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"He is going to be just fine, Bella," I promised her.
The three of us sat together in the waiting room, holding hands as a family.
