Chapter 13 - THE NIGHT EVERYTHING BROKE
“No, no, no.”
Mara held the edge of the table.
“I’m too early.”
Thorne looked terrified.
“Mara.”
“I’m only twenty-seven weeks.”
Another contraction hit.
She screamed.
Gunfire echoed through the house.
Worst possible time.
Worst possible place.
Thorne picked her up.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting you out.”
“You’re seventy!”
“Sixty-four.”
“This isn’t the time!”
He carried her through the kitchen toward a service exit.
A guard opened the door.
A bullet hit him in the chest.
Thorne turned instantly.
Mara screamed.
Then another vehicle smashed through the side gate.
Black SUV.
Gabriel jumped out firing.
Behind him came Dante.
Mara had never been happier to see anyone in her life.
“Dante!”
His head snapped toward her.
“Mara!”
He ran.
Mercer appeared on the second-floor balcony.
“DANTE!”
Dante looked up.
Mercer fired.
Thorne pushed Mara behind a stone wall.
Dante fired back.
Gabriel reached them.
“She’s in labor!”
Dante’s face lost all color.
“What?”
Mara grabbed his coat.
“Do not panic.”
“I’m not panicking.”
“You look panicked.”
“I’ve been shot three times and never felt this nervous.”
Despite everything, Mara laughed.
Then another contraction hit.
She nearly crushed his hand.
“Okay,” Dante gasped. “Strong grip.”
“Shut up.”
Gabriel opened the SUV.
“We have to go!”
Thorne turned toward the house.
Dante grabbed his arm.
“You’re coming.”
“No.”
“Mercer will kill you.”
“I know.”
Mara stared.
“Then come with us.”
Thorne looked at her.
“I have spent my entire life running from consequences.”
He took out his phone.
“It ends here.”
“What did you do?”
“Sent Rachel Sloan everything.”
Mara blinked.
“Everything?”
“Every file. Every account. Every name.”
Dante stared at him.
“You just destroyed yourself.”
Thorne gave a tired smile.
“I should have done it twenty years ago.”
Mercer stepped through the shattered doorway.
His weapon was aimed at Thorne.
“You sentimental idiot.”
Thorne turned.
Mercer fired.
The bullet hit him in the chest.
Mara screamed.
Dante fired back.
Mercer disappeared behind the doorway.
Thorne collapsed.
Mara crawled toward him.
“Dad.”
The word came out before she could stop it.
Thorne looked at her.
Surprise filled his face.
Then something almost peaceful.
“I’m sorry.”
Mara pressed her hand over the wound.
“Don’t talk.”
“I’m sorry I made you pay for my fear.”
“Stop.”
“You were never something to hide.”
Tears ran down Mara’s face.
Thorne touched her cheek.
“You were the best thing I ever did.”
His hand fell.
Mara stared at him.
“Dad?”
Nothing.
Dante knelt beside her.
“Mara.”
She screamed.
Not from the contraction.
From twenty-eight years of grief arriving all at once.
Then Mercer’s voice came through the doorway.
“How touching.”
Dante stood.
The gun in his hand shook with rage.
May you like
Mercer smiled.
“Now let’s finish the family business.”
