Chapter 7 - Captive Alliance
When they reached the threshold of the study, the door was already open.
Inside, Lieutenant Marsh stood in front of the open safe, a flashlight held between his teeth as he frantically stuffed folders into a heavy duffel bag. He heard the footsteps behind him and spun around, raising his weapon, but froze when he saw the two barrels pointed directly at his chest.
"Drop it, Lieutenant," Nora said, her voice dripping with a cold, absolute fury that made Marsh visibly flinch.
"Nora?" Marsh gasped, lowering his gun slightly, his eyes darting between her and Marco. "What the hell are you doing? He's a criminal! I brought the team to rescue you! He's corrupted you!"
"The only thing that was corrupt was my faith in you," Nora snarled, stepping into the light. "I know about the weapons, Marsh. I know about the cartel bribes. And I know you murdered Danny."
Marsh's face twisted from shock into a ugly, sinister sneer. He realized the game was entirely up. "Ruiz was an idiot. He thought he could play hero in a city that eats heroes for breakfast. And you... you're no better, Nora. You're standing next to a mafia monster, wearing his protection like a cheap coat."
"This 'monster' protected an orphanage while you were putting illegal guns into the hands of children on the street," Nora replied, her grip on her weapon unwavering.
"You can't prove anything," Marsh hissed. "My team will be up here in thirty seconds. You're outnumbered."
"Your team is currently being detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lieutenant," Marco spoke up, his voice smooth, calm, and devastatingly lethal. "I delivered the encrypted files containing your bank accounts and cartel communications to the regional FBI director three hours ago. The men outside aren't your reinforcements. They're the feds arresting your mercenaries."
As if on cue, the distant sounds of sirens began to wail, cutting through the night air. Red and blue lights began to flash against the study windows.
Marsh’s eyes widened in utter desperation. Realizing he had no escape, he raised his gun to fire at Nora out of pure malice.
Before he could pull the trigger, Marco moved with unbelievable speed, stepping directly in front of Nora to shield her body with his own while firing a single, disabling shot into Marsh’s leg. The lieutenant collapsed to the floor, screaming in pain, his weapon skittering away across the hardwood.
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Nora stepped around Marco, her eyes wide as she checked him over. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Marco murmured, his eyes locking onto hers, checking her for injuries with that same fierce, protective gaze she had come to rely on. "It's over, Nora."
