Chapter 13 - THE HOUSE OF BLACKWOOD BURNS
The first explosion tore through the eastern wall.
Steel screamed.
Glass shattered.
Lily covered Ethan with her body.
Dominic ran toward them.
A second blast threw him sideways.
He hit the concrete.
“Dominic!”
Lily screamed.
Smoke swallowed the warehouse.
Marcus’s men shouted directions.
“South exit!”
“Move!”
“Move!”
Dominic pushed himself up.
Blood ran from his forehead.
He found Lily through the smoke.
She was still holding Ethan.
Dominic reached them.
“Give him to me.”
“No.”
“Lily.”
“Your shoulder.”
Dominic looked down.
His left arm hung badly.
He had dislocated it in the blast.
He barely seemed to notice.
“Can you carry him?”
“Yes.”
“Then stay with me.”
They ran.
Another explosion shook the building.
A steel beam crashed behind them.
Serena appeared through the smoke.
“Dominic!”
He turned.
She was limping.
“Where’s Richard?”
“I don’t know.”
“Victor?”
“Gone.”
Marcus appeared.
“Exit’s blocked.”
Dominic looked around.
“Dock doors.”
“Locked.”
“I know another way.”
Everyone looked at him.
Dominic pointed toward the old administrative offices.
“There’s a maintenance tunnel.”
“How do you know?”
“My father showed me when I was a kid.”
Marcus almost laughed.
“Of course he did.”
They moved.
Lily held Ethan tightly.
The baby had stopped crying.
That terrified her.
“Ethan?”
No response.
“Ethan, baby.”
His eyes fluttered.
“Stay with me.”
Dominic looked back.
“He breathing?”
“Yes.”
“Keep talking to him.”
Lily kissed his forehead.
“Hey.”
Her voice shook.
“You still owe me breakfast.”
Ethan whimpered.
“That’s right.”
“You hate peas.”
“You remember?”
Another explosion.
The ceiling cracked.
Serena screamed.
Marcus grabbed her.
“Move!”
They reached the office corridor.
Dominic kicked open a rusted door.
Behind it was darkness.
“Here.”
They entered.
Marcus closed the door behind them.
The tunnel was narrow.
Water reached their ankles.
Dominic led.
Lily followed.
Serena and Marcus came behind.
Then a voice echoed from the far end.
“Dominic.”
Everyone stopped.
Victor stepped into view.
Gun raised.
He was bleeding from one side of his face.
“You always were difficult.”
Dominic moved in front of Lily.
Victor smiled.
“You’re injured.”
“So are you.”
Victor raised the gun.
“Give me Lily.”
“No.”
“She isn’t your responsibility.”
Dominic laughed.
“She’s my family.”
Lily looked at him.
Victor’s face twisted.
“Family?”
“You barely know her.”
“I know enough.”
“You think blood makes people family?”
“No.”
Dominic glanced back at Ethan.
“Showing up does.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
Victor’s gun moved toward her.
Dominic stepped sideways.
Victor laughed.
“You’ll die for a nanny?”
Dominic’s expression became cold.
“No.”
He looked directly at Victor.
“I’ll kill for my niece.”
Victor fired.
Dominic dropped.
Marcus fired back.
The tunnel exploded with sound.
Victor stumbled.
His weapon fell into the water.
Serena screamed.
Dominic pushed himself up.
The bullet had grazed his side.
Marcus advanced.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Victor laughed.
“You think this ends with me?”
Marcus kept the gun trained.
“It ends with you in handcuffs.”
“No.”
Victor backed toward the burning warehouse.
“It ends the way Blackwoods always end.”
He looked at Dominic.
“In fire.”
Then Victor turned and ran back toward the flames.
Marcus started after him.
Dominic grabbed his arm.
“Leave him.”
“He’ll escape.”
“No.”
Dominic looked toward the collapsing ceiling.
“He chose.”
They ran toward the opposite end.
Seconds later, another explosion thundered behind them.
The tunnel partially collapsed.
Victor disappeared beneath smoke and stone.
They reached the harbor.
Fresh air hit Lily’s face.
Ambulances were waiting beyond the fence.
Police vehicles filled the road.
Detective Collins ran toward them.
“You’re alive.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You sound disappointed.”
“Try me later.”
Paramedics took Ethan.
Lily refused to release him at first.
Dominic touched her shoulder.
“Let them.”
She looked at him.
“He’s scared.”
“I know.”
“He needs someone.”
Dominic looked toward the stretcher.
Then at Lily.
“Go with him.”
She nodded.
A paramedic helped her inside the ambulance.
Dominic started to follow.
Detective Collins stopped him.
“Dominic.”
He turned.
“We found Richard.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
Richard Blackwood was wheeled from behind another ambulance.
His clothes were covered in ash.
One side of his face was bleeding.
But he was alive.
Handcuffed.
Dominic walked toward him.
Richard smiled weakly.
“You failed.”
Dominic stopped.
“My son is alive.”
“The trust—”
“I don’t care.”
Richard stared at him.
“You will.”
“No.”
Dominic looked toward Ethan’s ambulance.
“That was always the difference between us.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
“You think love makes you strong?”
Dominic nodded.
“No.”
“It gives me something you never had.”
“What?”
“A reason not to become you.”
Richard’s smile vanished.
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“Richard Blackwood, you’re under arrest.”
She began reading his rights.
Dominic turned away.
Then Richard laughed.
Dominic stopped.
“You still don’t know.”
Dominic looked back.
Richard’s eyes were bright with satisfaction.
“Know what?”
“Who brought Lily into your house.”
Dominic stared.
Richard smiled.
“You think it was an accident?”
Dominic walked back.
“Who?”
Richard leaned forward.
“The person who has been protecting Evelyn’s daughter for twenty-four years.”
“Who?”
Richard whispered the name.
Dominic’s face changed.
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“Oh, yes.”
Dominic turned toward Marcus.
Marcus looked confused.
“Who did he say?”
May you like
Dominic could barely speak.
“My mother.”
