Chapter 6 - The Last Betrayal
Marcus Bell stepped from the lead SUV with six armed men.
Victor was dragged from the second vehicle.
Blood covered one side of his face.
Dominic's expression changed.
"Victor."
Marcus smiled.
"Good evening, boss."
Dominic stood on the cabin porch.
Samuel beside him.
Claire and Evelyn remained inside.
Marcus pushed Victor forward.
Victor stumbled.
"Sorry," Victor called. "Traffic."
Dominic almost smiled.
Marcus pressed a pistol against Victor's head.
"Drop your weapons."
Dominic didn't move.
"Let him go."
"You spent twenty-five years telling us never to negotiate from weakness."
Marcus smiled wider.
"You taught me well."
Samuel whispered, "Three men left. Four right."
"I see them."
"No, two in the trees."
Dominic's eyes shifted.
"Good."
Marcus shouted, "Weapons!"
Dominic slowly lowered his pistol.
Samuel followed.
Marcus's men approached.
Inside, Evelyn whispered, "There has to be another exit."
Claire pointed toward the kitchen.
"Cellar."
They moved.
Evelyn stopped.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
"No."
Claire stared.
"No?"
"If Marcus sees you disappear, Dominic loses leverage."
"And staying gives Marcus leverage."
Evelyn looked around.
Then noticed a propane line feeding the stove.
An idea formed.
Claire saw her expression.
"What?"
"How attached are you to this cabin?"
"Not very."
"Great."
Outside, Marcus shoved Victor toward Dominic.
"Seven years," Marcus said. "All because your wife couldn't mind her own business."
Dominic's eyes were cold.
"You tried to kill her."
"I tried to solve a problem."
"You failed."
"Did I?"
Marcus gestured toward the house.
"You lost seven years."
Dominic's expression didn't change.
But Marcus saw the pain.
That was what he wanted.
"She chose hiding over you."
Victor spat blood onto the ground.
"Shut up, Marcus."
Marcus struck him.
Dominic stepped forward.
Three weapons immediately aimed at his chest.
Marcus grinned.
"There he is."
Dominic stopped.
"You always had one weakness."
"Claire?"
"Love."
Dominic looked at him.
"No."
Marcus frowned.
"Trust."
Dominic continued.
"I trusted you."
Then the cabin lights went out.
Everyone looked toward the house.
Evelyn screamed.
"Fire!"
Smoke poured from a rear window.
Marcus turned.
"Claire!"
That single moment was enough.
Victor drove his shoulder into Marcus.
Samuel grabbed the nearest gunman.
Dominic moved.
Chaos exploded across the clearing.
Two shots cracked through the fog.
A man dropped his weapon.
Samuel slammed another into the SUV.
Victor wrestled Marcus toward the ground.
Dominic reached them.
Marcus kicked Victor away and raised his pistol.
Dominic grabbed his wrist.
They crashed against the hood.
Marcus snarled, "You should've stayed dead inside that mansion."
Dominic drove an elbow into him.
"You first."
The pistol fell.
Marcus lunged for it.
A voice came from behind.
"Don't."
Claire stood at the edge of the porch.
Her hands were steady.
Her weapon wasn't.
Marcus slowly turned.
For the first time, fear appeared in his face.
"Claire."
"You stole seven years."
Marcus looked toward Dominic.
Then back at her.
"Put it down."
"No."
"You aren't a killer."
Claire's eyes hardened.
"Neither was the woman you ran off a mountain."
Police sirens sounded faintly in the distance.
Marcus laughed.
"Police?"
Samuel grinned despite the blood on his lip.
"Federal task force."
Marcus's face collapsed.
Victor sat against an SUV.
"I've been feeding them evidence for four years."
Dominic looked at him.
"What?"
Victor shrugged.
"Couldn't exactly call you."
"You could have tried."
"You would've murdered Marcus before they reached the driveway."
Dominic considered it.
"Fair."
Marcus suddenly lunged for the fallen pistol.
Evelyn stepped out of the cabin holding a cast-iron skillet.
She swung.
The skillet struck Marcus across the shoulder.
He collapsed.
Everyone stared at her.
Evelyn looked down at him.
"I've had a difficult week."
Samuel started laughing.
Victor joined him.
Claire covered her mouth.
Dominic stared at Evelyn.
"You hit him with a skillet."
"He was reaching for a gun."
"You could've stayed inside."
"You could've hired a normal cook."
Sirens grew louder.
Dominic looked at Claire.
Then Victor.
Then Evelyn.
His entire world had been dead for seven years.
Suddenly it was far too loud.
And somehow, he didn't hate it.
Marcus Bell was arrested before midnight.
The documents Claire preserved connected him to financial crimes, attempted murder, corruption and multiple interstate operations.
Several officers and business associates followed.
Dominic watched the federal vehicles disappear down the mountain.
Victor sat beside him with an ice pack against his face.
"You going to kill me?"
Dominic looked over.
"For what?"
"Hiding your wife."
"I'm considering it."
"Take your time."
"Why didn't you tell me once Marcus lost influence?"
"Claire wouldn't let me."
Dominic looked toward the cabin.
Claire stood with Evelyn.
"She always was stubborn."
Victor smiled.
"That's why you married her."
Dominic became quiet.
Then said, "Thank you."
Victor looked surprised.
"Don't make it weird."
Dominic stood.
May you like
"Get off my mountain."
"There he is."
