Chapter 9 - The Burning of the Past
The transition of power was swift and absolute. Under the immense pressure of the financial leverage Megan held and the physical terror Dominic had instilled, Vanguard Helix signed over a series of legally binding non-disclosure agreements and absolute releases. The independent land development trust in Michigan was declared entirely sovereign, its borders legally protected under international corporate law.
They left Toronto that night, the city lights fading in the rearview mirror. When they arrived back at the cabin near Lake Superior, Leo was waiting with Clara. The baby was sleeping peacefully, completely oblivious to the war that had been fought in her name.
Dominic took his daughter into his arms, holding her against his chest for a long time, his shoulders shaking slightly as the adrenaline faded, leaving only a profound, exhausting relief.
The next day, they returned to the farm in western Michigan. The bullet holes were repaired, the blood was cleaned from the kitchen floor, and the broken glass was replaced. But they didn't just move back in; they held a ritual.
In the backyard, near the old red barn, Dominic built a small fire in a iron pit. Megan stood next to him, holding Clara, while Dominic tossed the remaining physical documents, the forged passports, and the original encrypted drives from Boston into the flames. The black smoke rose into the summer sky, dissipating into nothingness.
May you like
"It's really over," Megan whispered, leaning her head against Dominic’s shoulder.
"It is," Dominic said, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling his family close. "The world thinks we are dead, Megan. And for the first time in my life, I'm glad they're right."
