Chapter 16 - Blood and Betrayal
Vincent sprinted toward the back office as Julian pressed the button.
A small explosive charge blew the reinforced lock right off the office door.
Two of Julian's elite assassins had breached the room from a hidden skylight.
Vincent burst through the smoke just in time to see one of the men grabbing Maisie.
Leah was fighting like a wildcat, swinging a heavy wrench at the second attacker.
Vincent raised his rifle and fired a single shot, dropping the man holding the child.
Maisie scrambled backward, crying in terror as Leah pulled her into a tight embrace.
The second assassin lunged at Vincent with a serrated combat knife.
Vincent blocked the strike with the barrel of his rifle, engaging in a brutal close-quarters struggle.
He managed to disarm the killer and knock him unconscious with a heavy blow to the temple.
Vincent turned around to check on his father.
Carmine was holding his bleeding stomach, pointing a trembling revolver toward the office doorway.
Julian stood calmly in the threshold, watching his own father aim a gun at him.
Julian mocked the old man, daring him to finally pull the trigger on his greatest disappointment.
Carmine's hand shook violently, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
He could not bring himself to shoot his own son, even after everything Julian had done.
Julian sneered in disgust and quickly drew a silver pistol from his waistband.
He pointed it directly at Leah and Maisie huddled in the corner.
May you like
Julian stated that if he could not have the child, nobody would.
Before Julian could fire, Carmine threw himself directly into the path of the bullet.
