Chapter 9 - Fall of the Empire
The final shootout was brief but catastrophic. Marcone’s bodyguards raised their weapons, but Tony and Marco took them down from the upper balcony before they could pull their triggers.
Sal Marcone found himself standing alone in the ruined foyer, surrounded by his fallen soldiers. He looked up at Vincent, who was descending the stairs slowly, his boots crunching on broken glass and spent shell casings.
Marcone raised a shaking hand, holding a small pocket pistol. "You think you've won, kid? The feds will come for you next. That ledger ruins everyone."
"It ruins your people, Sal," Vincent said coldly, stopping three paces away. "My family doesn't take bribes from real estate developers who burn down poor people’s homes. We have lines we don't cross. You crossed them when you touched Elena Morrison."
Before Marcone could fire, Vincent shot him once through the shoulder, knocking him to the floor, and disarmed him with a swift, brutal kick.
"Tony, call our contacts in the federal prosecutor's office," Vincent said, looking down at the defeated Don. "Tell them Sal Marcone is wrapped up in a bow on my front lawn, along with all the evidence they need to put him away for the rest of his natural life. Let the law finish him. It's what Elena would want."
The clean-up took hours, but by dawn, the safehouse was secure. The police and federal agents had come and gone, taking a broken Sal Marcone and his associates with them. The Marcone empire was effectively dead, its assets frozen, its leadership dismantled.
Vincent stood on the ruined porch, watching the sun rise over the pine trees, painting the sky in beautiful hues of pink and gold. He was covered in soot and dust, his knuckles scraped, but for the first time in his life, he felt completely at peace.
The door behind him clicked open. Elena walked out, wrapped in a warm blanket, supported gently by Sophie, who was holding her hand.
Vincent turned around, a soft smile breaking across his face. "You shouldn't be out of bed."
"I wanted to see the sunrise," Elena said, stepping close to him. She looked at his battered face, her eyes filled with an overwhelming warmth. "And I wanted to see you."
Sophie ran forward and hugged Vincent's leg, exactly like she had done at the restaurant days ago—but this time, she wasn't crying. She was laughing. Vincent scooped her up into his arms, holding her effortlessly.
May you like
"Is it over?" Elena asked quietly.
"It's over," Vincent replied, wrapping his free arm around Elena’s shoulders, pulling her close against his side. "The city is safe. You are safe."
