Chapter 13 - Fire and Glass at the Riverhouse
The freezing wind screamed across the stone terrace, whipping snow into Rosa’s eyes.
Behind her, the bedroom door collapsed inward with a deafening crash. Two masked mercenaries in tactical winter gear stepped onto the balcony, their weapons raised.
“End of the line, sweetheart,” the lead mercenary growled, raising his rifle.
Before he could pull the trigger, the dark silhouette of an armored helicopter roared out of the blizzard directly above the terrace, its high-powered spotlight blinding the mercenaries with 50,000 lumens of searing white light.
CRACK! CRACK!
Two precision sniper rounds from the helicopter’s open bay eliminated both mercenaries instantly.
The helicopter hovered ten feet above the open terrace, and Marcus leaped from the skid into the deep snow, landing hard, rolling, and coming to his feet with his weapon drawn.
Julian and three tactical operators dropped right behind him, instantly securing the terrace and clearing the room.
Marcus saw Rosa standing at the edge of the stone railing, covered in snow, shielding Lily with her entire body.
“ROSA!” Marcus shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of the blizzard.
Rosa turned, her face pale, her lips blue from the freezing cold. When she saw Marcus running toward her through the snow, her knees finally gave out.
Marcus caught them both before they could hit the stone floor.
He pulled Rosa and Lily into his chest, collapsing onto his knees in the snow, wrapping his heavy tactical parka around them both, his heart pounding against his ribs like a sledgehammer.
“I’m here! I’ve got you!” Marcus gasped, his breath ragged, his hands checking them both with frantic desperation. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you? Lily, look at me!”
Lily peeked out from the blanket, her tiny face wet with tears, but uninjured. “Mr. Marcus... the bad men broke the door.”
Marcus pulled the little girl close, burying his face in her curls, his entire body trembling with the adrenaline of pure terror and profound relief. “They’re gone, Lily. The bad men are gone forever. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again.”
Rosa looked up at Marcus, her shivering hands reaching up to touch his face. “You came back. You saved us again.”
Marcus looked into Rosa’s hazel eyes, the blizzard swirling around them in a halo of white light. In that frozen, chaotic moment, looking at the woman and child who had brought truth, justice, and humanity back into his hollow life, Marcus knew with absolute certainty that he would spend every breath of his remaining days protecting them.
“I will always come back for you, Rosa,” Marcus whispered, leaning down and gently pressing his forehead against hers. “Always.”
Julian stepped onto the terrace, lowering his rifle, a faint smile breaking through his battle-hardened face. “Perimeter is secure, Marcus. All hostile elements neutralized. The state police and federal marshals are at the front gate.”
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Marcus nodded slowly, helping Rosa to her feet and lifting Lily safely into his strong arms.
“Let’s go home,” Marcus said softly.
