Chapter 6 - The Reclaiming of Chicago
The fire from the exploding fuel drums spread rapidly across the warehouse, filling the structure with thick, black smoke and triggering the overhead industrial sprinkler system.
Water poured down like torrential rain, drenching the burning room.
Roman stood up amidst the downpour, holding his pistol with a lethal, terrifying grace. He stepped out from behind the container, his movements fluid and precise.
Two quick shots echoed through the rain.
Julian Vance’s remaining bodyguards fell to the concrete floor.
Julian turned to flee toward the open bay door, but Roman closed the distance like an apex predator, grabbing Julian by his throat and slamming him violently against the hood of a burning SUV.
The silenced handgun clattered onto the wet concrete.
Julian choked, his eyes bulging with terror as Roman’s massive hand squeezed his windpipe, lifting his feet two inches off the ground.
"Roman... please..." Julian gasped, blood dripping from his nose. "We... we were brothers..."
"Brothers don't touch my daughter," Roman said, his voice dropping into a register so cold it seemed to freeze the falling rain around them. "And brothers don't threaten the woman I love."
With one brutal, decisive twist of his arm, Roman ended Julian Vance’s betrayal forever.
Julian’s limp body dropped onto the concrete like a discarded rag.
Roman stood in the falling water, his chest heaving, his gray sweater soaked red with a mixture of his own opened stitches and rain water.
Ava ran out from the aisle, grabbing his arm. "Roman! You're bleeding!"
Roman turned to look at her. The wild, lethal fury in his eyes vanished the moment his gaze landed on her face. He reached out, taking her chin in his hand, looking her over frantically.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded, his voice trembling with genuine concern. "Did they touch you?"
"I'm fine!" Ava cried, pressing a clean towel against his torn surgical wound. "You're the one who needs a surgeon again!"
Behind them, the iron door of the safe room swung open.
Sophie stepped out, holding her stuffed elephant, looking at her father standing in the rain.
Roman dropped to his knees on the wet concrete, opening his arms wide. "Sophie."
The little girl ran as fast as her small legs could carry her, throwing her arms around Roman’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder. Roman pulled her close, kissing her wet hair over and over again, his eyes closing in deep, profound gratitude.
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Then he reached out with his free arm, grabbing Ava’s hand, pulling her down onto the concrete beside them.
He pulled Ava into his chest, holding both his daughter and the woman who had saved them tightly against his heart as the fire sirens echoed in the distance.
