Chapter 10 - The Last Card
"End of the line, Lombardi," the operative said, his voice flat, devoid of any human emotion. "The Moretti family sends their regards."
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Clare stared at the barrel of the gun, her mind racing through the impossible math of their survival. Sebastian’s hand was frantically patting the holster at his belt, but he was exposed behind the desk, his legs useless.
The toxin, a dark, desperate thought flashed through her mind. If he gave him the neurotoxin...
No, the toxin took hours to reach the diaphragm. It wasn't going to save them right now.
With a sudden, blind surge of adrenaline that defied her terror, Clare lunged forward across the rug. Her hand grabbed the heavy Sig Sauer pistol Sebastian had slid toward her earlier. She didn't know how to aim. She didn't know the safety. She just raised the heavy piece of iron with both hands, closed her eyes, and pulled the trigger.
The recoil nearly broke her wrists. The deafening roar of the gunshot echoed like artillery inside the enclosed study, blowing out the remaining glass of the nearest window.
A sharp gasp echoed from across the room.
Clare opened her eyes, gasping for air. The tactical operative was no longer standing upright. He was crumpled sideways against the marble fireplace hearth, clutching a shattered shoulder, his rifle skittering across the floorboards.
Sebastian stared at the downed gunman, then slowly turned his head to look at Clare, sheer disbelief and profound shock etched across his face. He had underestimated her from the very first moment she walked into his estate, and it had nearly cost him his life.
"You... you actually shot him," Sebastian breathed, his voice a gravelly whisper.
"We have to move," Clare panted, dropping the gun as if it were burning her flesh. She scrambled over to Gabriel, pressing her hands against his chest to stem the bleeding, but she could already feel life slipping away beneath her fingers.
Gabriel’s eyes fluttered open. He looked past Clare, fixing his dying gaze on Sebastian.
"Boss..." Gabriel rasped, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth. "Perimeter... comms are back up. The backup unit from the south docks... they're reporting a second breach team inbound. Not Moretti."
Sebastian’s face went completely pale. "Who?"
Gabriel coughed, a wet, rattling sound. "Federal agents. Federal indictment, boss. The entire syndicate ledger... someone just uploaded the whole thing to the FBI from inside this house tonight."
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Sebastian’s head snapped around, his dark, dangerous eyes locking onto Clare with a terrifying, frozen fury.
The heavy thud of multiple combat boots echoed up the grand staircase, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of a bullhorn shouting through the shattered front doors: "FBI! Federal warrant! Nobody move!"
