Chapter 10 - The Family Business
Vincent froze, his finger resting heavily on the trigger.
Thorne grinned through his bloody teeth.
He claimed Julian had faked his own death fifteen years ago.
Thorne said Julian was the one who actually hired him tonight to get the drive back.
Vincent stared at his lifelong enemy.
He recognized a desperate liar trying to buy one more minute of life.
Vincent did not say a word.
He pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed over the river, and Victor Thorne slumped to the ground.
The empire that had plagued Philadelphia for decades was finally broken.
Vincent pocketed the hard drive from Thorne's coat.
He walked back to the barge and helped a shaking Leah to her feet.
He wrapped his own dry jacket around her.
He promised her that no one would ever hunt her or her daughter again.
Two hours later, they walked into Carmine's penthouse.
Maisie shrieked with joy when she saw her mother.
She ran across the room and tackled Leah's legs.
Leah wept as she kissed her daughter's face.
Vincent stood by the doorway, watching the broken family finally heal.
Maisie suddenly let go of her mother and ran over to Vincent.
She demanded her daddy hug.
Vincent smiled, dropping to one knee, and wrapped his arms tightly around the little girl.
He knew his life of isolation was permanently over.
They were safe, they were protected, and they were family.
Three weeks later, Vincent sat in his library reading a storybook to Maisie.
Leah was happily organizing the kitchen down the hall.
Graham's replacement walked into the room carrying a small, unmarked wooden box.
He said a courier had just dropped it at the front gates without a return address.
Vincent opened the lid and stared at the contents in absolute horror.
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Inside the box rested Julian Carrow's customized silver lighter.
Beneath it was a handwritten note that read, "You always were too sentimental, Brother."
