Chapter 7 - Blood on the Marble
Dominic didn't freeze.
As Julian pulled the trigger, Dominic dropped flat onto the icy floorboards. The wall of lead shot tore through the aluminum ducting above, shredding the metal where he had been standing a second before.
Dominic rolled to his left, sweeping his leg around to strike Julian's knees.
The heavy shotgun discharged again into the ceiling as Julian stumbled backward, crashing into a rack of frozen meat hooks.
Dominic scrambled to his feet, driving his right fist squarely into Julian's jaw. The impact sent a jolt up Dominic’s arm, but Julian reeled backward, dropping the shotgun onto the slippery floor.
"You were always the favorite!" Julian screamed, drawing a heavy hunting knife from his tactical vest and lunging wildly at his brother. "Father gave you the company! He gave you the name! He gave you everything!"
Dominic parried the knife strike with his left forearm, the heavy fabric of his suit jacket deflecting the sharp steel. He grabbed Julian’s wrist, twisting it violently downward until the blade clattered against the stainless-steel floor.
"Father gave me the responsibility because he knew you were weak, Julian!" Dominic roared, driving his elbow into Julian's ribs, pinning him against the frost-covered wall. "You sold out your family for money you didn't even need!"
"I did it for respect!" Julian choked out, blood leaking from his nose onto his white collar. "You treated me like a shadow!"
"You're not a shadow, Julian," Dominic whispered, his eyes cold as ice as he pulled a pair of heavy steel zip-ties from his tactical coat and bound his brother's wrists tightly behind his back. "You're a prisoner."
Dominic hauled his brother out of the ruined walk-in freezer into the smoky kitchen.
Dr. Arthur Harris was sitting against the far wall, clutching his shattered shoulder, surrounded by three heavily armed state police officers who had breached the rear doors.
Beside them stood Marcus Vance, covered in soot, holding his sidearm low.
"It's over, Mr. Moretti," Marcus said, breathing heavily. "The estate perimeter is secure. State police and federal agents have taken fifteen consortium operatives into custody. Interpol has confirmed the file download."
Dominic tossed his bound brother toward the federal agents. "Take them both away."
Julian looked back at Dominic as he was dragged toward the door, his eyes filled with a mixture of rage and pathetic realization. "Dominic... please... we're brothers..."
Dominic didn't answer. He turned his back on Julian, walking quickly toward the laundry chute at the end of the service corridor.
Standing near the door of the staff quarters was Sophia, wrapped in a warm wool blanket, holding Ethan and Lily in her arms. Ethan was crying softly, his arms wrapped tightly around his father's waist the moment Dominic walked through the door.
"Dad!" Ethan sobbed. "I thought... I thought they were going to hurt you!"
Dominic dropped to his knees, pulling both his son and Lily into a tight, protective embrace. "I'm here, Ethan. It's over. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again."
Sophia looked down at Dominic, tears running down her cheeks, her shoulders slumping as months of fear, grief, and exhaustion finally washed away.
"Is David's drive safe?" she asked quietly.
Dominic stood up, reaching into his pocket and holding out the acrylic-encased micro-drive. "Your husband’s sacrifice just exposed the largest corporate criminal syndicate in modern history, Sophia. His legacy will save thousands of lives."
May you like
Lily looked up from beneath her blanket, pointing her small finger at the silver case resting on the table nearby. "The shiny box is clean now, Mummy?"
Sophia knelt down, wiping her eyes, and smiled at her daughter. "Yes, sweetie. The shiny box is clean."
