Chapter 10 - THE COLD RIVER
Nero’s jaws clamped around Elena’s right forearm with bone-shattering force.
The ceramic blade flew from her fingers, splashing into the murky drainage canal below.
Elena screamed, thrashing against the massive dog’s weight.
"Nero! Out!" Gabriel commanded.
The Cane Corso released his grip instantly, stepping back three paces and sitting down on the wet stones.
His dark eyes never left Elena.
Elena slumped against the rusted iron drainage gate, clutching her broken, bleeding arm against her ribs.
She slid down the iron bars until she sat in the shallow river water pooling on the floor.
She looked up at Gabriel through matted, wet hair.
"Kill me," she wheezed, her chest heaving.
"End it, Gabriel."
Gabriel stepped to the edge of the water.
He looked down at his brother's widow.
There was no hatred in his face.
Only a vast, sorrowful emptiness.
"Death is too clean for you, Elena," Gabriel said quietly.
"You will spend the rest of your life in an eight-by-ten cell at Dwight Correctional Center."
"You will wake up every morning knowing that Julian’s empire is thriving."
"And that you have nothing."
Heavy boots splashed through the tunnel behind them.
Matteo arrived with eight tactical officers and two federal marshals in windbreakers.
"Mr. Duca," the lead marshal said, stepping forward with heavy steel cuffs.
"We have Moretti’s boat boxed in by Coast Guard interceptors at the state line."
"Good," Gabriel said without looking back.
"Take her."
The marshals hauled Elena to her feet.
She didn't fight anymore.
She hung limply between the agents, her head bowed in absolute defeat as they dragged her into the dark corridor.
The tunnel fell quiet.
The sound of dripping water filled the space once more.
Gabriel turned to Olivia.
The adrenaline that had carried her through the night suddenly drained away.
Her knees buckled.
Gabriel caught her before she hit the wet floor.
His good arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
Her face pressed into his neck.
She could feel the steady, heavy beat of his heart against her cheek.
Lily wrapped her arms around Gabriel’s leg, holding on with all her strength.
"It’s over, Olivia," Gabriel murmured into her hair.
"It’s finally over."
Olivia buried her face in his torn shirt and wept.
Tears of relief, of exhaustion, of four years of hidden fear washing away into the dark river below.
Nero walked up, resting his massive chin on Lily’s shoulder.
The little girl giggled softly through her tears, petting the dog’s wet black ears.
Gabriel held both of them in the dim underground light.
For the first time in four years, the darkness in his eyes was gone.
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Replaced by a quiet, protective warmth that felt like home.
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