Chapter 8 - Justice on the Cliff
The storm outside raged with apocalyptic fury. Lightning illuminated the sheer cliffs at the edge of the Moretti estate, where the turbulent waves of Long Island Sound crashed against the sharp black rocks two hundred feet below.
Julian Vance ran through the rain, clutching a bleeding shoulder where a ricochet bullet had caught him. He reached the stone gazebo near the cliff edge, panting heavily, his phone slipping from his wet fingers as he tried to call his escape boat waiting in the cove.
Footsteps echoed steadily behind him on the wet gravel.
Julian turned around, drawing his backup weapon, but a heavy hand seized his wrist, twisting it until the bone snapped with a sickening CRACK.
Julian shrieked in agony, dropping the gun as he was hurled against the stone balustrade of the gazebo.
Gabriel stood before him in the pouring rain. His coat was gone, his white shirt soaked with rain and crimson blood. He looked like an ancient god of vengeance, his hazel eyes burning with pure, unadulterated hatred.
"Gabriel... please!" Julian gasped, clutching his broken wrist, backing up against the low stone wall overlooking the abyss. "We were brothers! Your father trusted me!"
"My father trusted a man, not a rat," Gabriel said, his voice terrifyingly calm as he stepped closer, gripping Julian by his collar. "You poisoned my wife. You caused the death of an innocent baby girl. You brought terror to my children."
"It was just business!" Julian choked out, panic wildly taking over as he looked down at the dark, crashing ocean below. "I can give you the accounts! Two hundred million dollars in Swiss banks! It's yours, Gabriel! Just let me walk!"
"My wife's life was not for sale," Gabriel whispered, leaning in close until his breath touched Julian's ear. "And Grace's life was priceless."
Gabriel didn't draw his gun. He simply lifted Julian by his lapels, hoisting the traitor over the edge of the stone wall.
"Gabriel! NO! PLEASE!" Julian screamed, his legs dangling over the precipice.
"Say hello to hell, Julian," Gabriel said softly.
Gabriel opened his hands.
May you like
Julian Vance’s screams were instantly swallowed by the roar of the thunder as his body plunged into the dark, churning waters below, smashing against the jagged rocks.
Gabriel stood at the edge of the cliff for a long time, letting the freezing rain wash the blood from his hands. He raised his face to the stormy sky, letting out a long, silent breath as the spirits of Isabella and baby Grace were finally laid to rest.
