Chapter 8
Mateo grabbed Gabriel’s hand.
With immense strength, Gabriel hauled Mateo up onto the metal catwalk, then reached down for me and Ethan. We scrambled out of the flooding hull just as the water completely submerged the room below.
Gunfire still echoed from the docks outside.
“Silas is trying to escape on a speedboat,” Gabriel shouted over the noise, handing Mateo a spare pistol.
Mateo checked the magazine, his face hardening into the lethal protector I hadn't seen in four years. “Not tonight, he isn't.”
We ran through the rusted corridors of the ship. We burst out onto the main deck.
The rain was blinding. Below us, at the edge of the dock, Silas was stepping onto a sleek black motorboat. Three of his guards stood on the pier, firing up at us to provide cover.
“Stay down!” Gabriel yelled, pushing me and Ethan behind a steel vent.
Gabriel and Mateo moved in perfect synchronization, as if the last four years had never happened. Mateo provided covering fire while Gabriel sprinted down the metal stairs to the dock.
Mateo dropped two of Silas’s guards with precise shots.
Gabriel reached the bottom, leveling his weapon at the last guard. The man dropped his gun and ran.
Silas frantically turned the key in the boat’s ignition. The engine roared to life.
But Gabriel didn't shoot.
Instead, he walked slowly to the edge of the wooden pier. He raised his gun and pointed it directly at the boat’s massive fuel tank.
Silas looked back, his eyes widening in horror as he realized what Gabriel was aiming at.
“Gabriel, wait!” Silas screamed, holding up his hands. “The family! You’ll destroy the family name!”
“You are not my family,” Gabriel said.
Gabriel pulled the trigger.
The bullet pierced the heavy steel tank. Gasoline poured into the water.
Gabriel fired one more shot, this time into the spark plug of the engine.
The explosion lit up the entire harbor.
The blast wave threw Gabriel backward onto the dock. A massive plume of orange fire swallowed the speedboat instantly.
Silence fell over the docks, save for the crackling of the flames and the pouring rain.
Mateo lowered his gun. He leaned against the railing, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gasps.
He slowly turned and walked back toward me.
He dropped to his knees on the wet steel deck. He didn't care about the rain or the blood. He pulled Ethan into his arms, burying his face in our son's neck, and then pulled me in until the three of us were a tangled knot of tears and relief.
“It’s over,” Mateo cried into my hair. “I’m home. I’m finally home.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling his strong heartbeat against my chest. The nightmare that had haunted me for four years was finally washing away in the rain.
Gabriel walked slowly up the stairs, clutching his bleeding shoulder. He stood over us, watching his best friend hold his family.
Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out the brass compass Ethan had given him. He handed it down to Mateo.
“You dropped this four years ago,” Gabriel said softly.
Mateo looked up, taking the compass. He smiled through his tears.
“Thank you, Boss.”
“No more bosses,” Gabriel said, shaking his head. “From now on, we’re partners.”
May you like
Gabriel turned to look out at the burning wreckage of Silas’s boat.
“But there’s one more place we need to go tonight before this is truly over.”
