Chapter 8 - The Guard Dogs of the Estate
Adrian stepped out of his vehicle into the center of the chaos, his presence commanding absolute terror. Behind him, three more Mercer security SUVs arrived, swarming the narrow road and instantly disarming and pinning O'Malley’s men to the asphalt before a single shot could be fired.
Adrian didn't even look at the captured men. His eyes were fixed entirely on the SUV containing his family.
He tore the passenger door open, his breathing ragged, his face pale with a cold, desperate fury. "Claire! Lily!"
Claire lifted her head, her body trembling, but she hadn't let go of Lily for a single second. "We're okay! We're fine, Adrian! She's safe!"
Adrian pulled both of them out of the vehicle and into his arms, crushing them against his chest with a fierce, shaking intensity. He buried his face in Claire’s soft brown hair, breathing in her scent, verifying with his own hands that she was unhurt.
"Papa," Lily whimpered, hugging his neck tightly. "Claire protected me!"
Adrian pulled back slightly, looking down at Claire. His eyes were blazing with a mix of overwhelming love and terrifying protectiveness. "You kept her safe."
"Always," Claire whispered firmly. "I will always keep her safe."
Frank walked up, his gun holstered, pointing toward the back of one of the sedans. "It was O'Malley himself, boss. He was in the rear car. He thought he could kidnap them and force you to hand over the harbor terminals."
Adrian’s expression turned to pure granite. He looked at Frank, his voice dropping to an icy tone that left no room for doubt. "Turn them all over to the federal authorities. Give them the complete wiretaps, the tax fraud records, and the evidence of today's attempted abduction. Ensure Seamus O'Malley spends the rest of his natural life behind bars in a maximum-security federal prison."
"Consider it done, boss," Frank said with a grim nod.
May you like
Adrian turned back to Claire, sweeping her up in his arms despite her soft gasp of surprise, holding his daughter with his other arm as his men secured the scene.
"No more ghosts," Adrian promised, looking deep into Claire's eyes as the siren lights of arriving police vehicles painted the surrounding pine trees in red and blue. "Today, the past dies forever. Tomorrow, our life begins."
