Chapter 10 - The Open Road
The sun began its long, slow descent over the western horizon, casting long rows of golden, amber light across the calm waters of the canal. Roman Callahan walked down the wooden steps from the pavilion, his heavy boots making a solid, comforting sound against the cedar planks. He had finally taken off his suit jacket, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his bare feet sinking into the cool, green river grass as he joined his brother near the water’s edge.
He looked up at Clara, then down at Lily, who was currently trying to teach the puppy how to sit on top of a flat stone she had pulled from the river bank. The severe, predatory mask that had once defined the Callahan empire was entirely gone, replaced by the quiet, deep stillness of a man who had finally brought his family home from the cold.
"The northern accounts are settled, Clara," Roman said, his voice low and steady as he walked up to the deck and sat on the bench next to her swing. He slid his right arm around the back of the wood, his eyes locking onto hers with an unyielding, eternal devotion to the family they had saved from the ruins. "The ledger is clear. Thomas Vance was arrested at the border near Windsor two hours ago. The Montreal network is entirely dismantled."
"It is," Clara smiled, leaning over to press her lips against Caleb’s jaw as he climbed the steps to join them, his hand finding hers in the dark space between their chairs.
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Lily let out a loud, triumphant cheer from the grass below, her small fist clenching tightly against her chest as she turned to look at the three of them, her dark eyes bright with the absolute, fearless certainty of a child who knew she belonged exactly where she was standing.
The summer wind stirred the green grass around their boots, carrying the clean, fresh scent of the river out toward the open lake, leaving behind nothing but a clear ledger and a road that was completely open to the light. They were finally, permanently home.
