Chapter 8 - The Final Reckoning
By midnight, the interrogation of the two mercenary infiltrators yielded the final truth: Hector Price had financed the attack using Roland’s remaining offshore accounts, planning to flee to South America once the estate kitchen was burned to the ground.
Lucian did not wait for the police.
Accompanied by Owen, Mara, and a full tactical squad, Lucian tracked Hector Price to an abandoned marina on the south side of Lake Michigan, where a private yacht was waiting to carry him away.
The rain fell in sheets as Lucian’s fleet of black SUVs surrounded the dock, cutting off all escape routes.
Hector Price was dragged out of the cabin of his boat by Owen and slammed onto the rain-soaked wooden dock, his wrists bound tightly behind his back.
Lucian stepped out of his vehicle, holding a heavy black umbrella over Mara as they walked down the dock together.
“Please! Lucian!” Hector screamed over the roaring wind and rain. “It was Roland! Roland forced me to do it! He had leverage on me!”
Lucian stopped three feet from the terrified man.
“Your brother tried to poison my table,” Lucian said, his voice quiet against the storm. “And then you tried to burn down the home of the woman I love.”
Mara looked up at Lucian, her heart skipping a beat.
The woman I love.
Lucian had never spoken those words aloud, yet in that rain-soaked moment under the dark Chicago sky, the truth was undeniable. Over the past year, their bond had grown far beyond that of a boss and an employee. They were two souls who had fought through the darkest fires of betrayal and emerged side by side.
Lucian pulled a thick legal dossier from inside his coat and tossed it into Hector’s lap.
“I bought every single debt your brother owed,” Lucian revealed coldly. “I seized your family’s real estate assets, your bank accounts, and your private holdings. You are penniless, Hector. The police are waiting at the end of this pier to arrest you for grand arson and domestic terrorism. You will join your brother in federal prison for the next thirty years.”
Hector stared at the legal documents in absolute horror, realizing that his family’s lineage had been completely wiped off the face of the earth.
Lucian turned to Owen. “Hand him over to the federal authorities. I don't want his blood on my docks.”
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As the police sirens approached in the distance, Lucian turned to Mara, taking her hand in his. His grip was warm, strong, and unwavering.
“Let’s go home, Mara,” Lucian said softly. “We have a kitchen to rebuild.”
