Part 21
"Kill her!" Volkov screamed, pointing a trembling finger at Emma.
Before a single guard could pull a trigger, the stained-glass windows of the cathedral shattered simultaneously in a violent explosion of colored glass.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
High-velocity sniper rounds tore through the darkness of the choir loft, striking three of Volkov’s guards before they could even turn around.
The church erupted into chaos.
Emma dove behind a heavy stone pillar, pulling her gun from her pocket as bullets chewed through the wood of the pews nearby.
From the shadows of the side chapel, Adrian Romano emerged like an avenging angel, a submachine gun in each hand, releasing a torrent of lethal, precise fire that cut down the remaining lieutenants in seconds.
He moved with an impossible, fluid ferocity, his face twisted in a mask of pure, unadulterated vengeance.
Volkov panicked, abandoning the laptop and sprinting toward the rear exit of the altar.
But Adrian was faster.
He cut across the sanctuary, throwing his body forward, slamming Volkov onto the cold marble steps of the altar.
The older man groaned, trying to reach for a hidden pistol in his boot, but Adrian smashed his boot down onto Volkov’s wrist, crushing the bones instantly.
Volkov screamed, pinning his broken arm against his chest as he looked up at Adrian, who stood over him, the barrel of his weapon resting directly between the Russian’s eyes.
"It’s over, Viktor," Adrian said, his voice a quiet whisper that sounded like the final page of a tragedy.
"You... you trapped me," Volkov gasped, blood leaking from his mouth. "The feds... they're coming for all of us."
"They're coming for you," Adrian corrected him coldly. "My files are clean. My assets are converted. By the time the government processes that data, the Volkov name will be nothing but afootnote in the history of this city."
He leaned down, his eyes boring into the Russian's soul.
"You tried to kill my son. You made him cry. That is a sin no god in this church can forgive."
BANG.
The sound echoed through the massive cathedral, followed by a heavy, absolute silence.
Adrian stood up, stepping over the body, and turned to look at the stone pillar where Emma was hiding.
"Emma," he called out softly.
She stepped out from behind the pillar, her hands shaking, her coat covered in glass dust.
Adrian walked down the altar steps, stopping just an inch away from her. He reached out, his hand gently taking the Glock from her trembling fingers and sliding it into his own belt.
He looked at her, his eyes soft, filled with a deep, profound peace that she hadn't seen since the moment they met at the restaurant.
"It's over," Adrian said. "The house is clean. The empire is safe."
From the shadows of the rear entrance, Hector appeared, carrying Leo in a protective, armored baby carrier. The baby was awake, looking around the grand church with wide, curious eyes.
Adrian looked from his son to Emma.
"We need to leave before the feds arrive," Adrian said, offering her his hand. "We have a new life to build. Together."
Emma looked at his hand, then at the baby boy who had connected their destinies in the middle of a rain-soaked night.
She smiled, a real, beautiful smile that chased away the ghosts of her past.
May you like
She took Adrian’s hand.
They walked out of the crumbling cathedral together, stepping into the early morning light of a city that now belonged entirely to them.
