Chapter 6 - The Monster Returns
Roman Keller did not go to prison immediately.
He entered federal custody and provided names.
Judges.
Businessmen.
Private contractors.
Former intelligence officers.
The network had operated for fifteen years, arranging assassinations and selling access to ports, governments, and criminal organizations.
Anthony Bellini had been only one piece.
Dominic accepted a plea agreement.
Vincent surrendered financial records, illegal accounts, and ownership interests connected to Bellini.
In return, prosecutors offered reduced charges and protected status for several employees who cooperated.
But three weeks later, Roman disappeared from federal custody.
Sarah learned about it at Vincent’s estate.
Paul entered the library holding his phone.
“The transport convoy was attacked.”
Vincent stood.
“Bellini’s men?”
“No. Two guards were found unconscious. No bodies. Keller is gone.”
Sarah looked at the window.
“He escaped without killing them.”
Vincent frowned.
“Is that supposed to comfort me?”
“It means he had a purpose other than revenge.”
That night, Vincent doubled security.
Sarah stayed at the estate.
At two in the morning, she heard glass break downstairs.
She drew a small flashlight and moved through the hallway.
A shadow stood inside the library.
“Roman,” she said.
He stepped into the moonlight.
His shoulder was bandaged.
Vincent entered from the opposite doorway holding a pistol.
“Give me one reason,” Vincent said.
Roman looked at him.
“The man who ordered your death is coming here.”
“When?”
“Now.”
The estate alarms began to sound.
Gunfire erupted near the front gate.
Sarah looked at Roman.
“Who?”
“Deputy Director Malcolm Vane.”
The name meant nothing to Vincent.
It meant everything to Sarah.
Vane had commanded her protection unit.
He had ordered the route change in Prague.
Sarah’s face went cold.
“He betrayed Elias.”
Roman nodded.
“He also created the contract against Vincent. Caruso’s legitimate withdrawal threatened to expose shipping records connected to Vane’s network.”
Vincent lowered his pistol slightly.
“How many men?”
“Fourteen.”
“Why warn us?”
Roman looked at Sarah.
“She saved my life.”
Vincent said, “That makes two of us.”
The front windows shattered.
Armed men entered the estate.
Sarah took command.
“Paul, move the staff into the reinforced basement. Marcus, shut down the east corridor. Vincent, stay behind me.”
Vincent objected.
“This is my house.”
“And I’m better at this.”
Roman almost smiled.
They moved through the estate.
Sarah disabled one attacker near the staircase.
Roman knocked another through a wooden railing.
Vincent helped Paul guide the kitchen staff toward safety.
In the library, Malcolm Vane waited beside Elena Caruso’s portrait.
He was in his sixties, with white hair and a calm, administrative smile.
“Sarah,” he said. “You always were difficult to kill.”
Vincent entered behind her.
Vane looked at him.
“And you were supposed to die in a restaurant.”
Vincent replied, “The service was unusually good that night.”
Vane raised his gun.
Sarah stood between them.
“Where is Elias?”
Vane’s smile faded.
“Still asking the wrong question.”
“Roman said he survived.”
“For a while.”
Sarah’s voice tightened.
“What did you do?”
“He refused to cooperate.”
“You killed him.”
“I finished an operation you failed to complete.”
Sarah took one step forward.
“You sold his route.”
“I protected national interests.”
“You protected your bank accounts.”
Vane aimed at her chest.
“You were always too emotional.”
Vincent said, “She seems calm to me.”
Vane glanced toward him.
Sarah moved.
She struck his gun hand aside.
The weapon fired into the wall.
Vane grabbed her throat.
Vincent hit him with a brass lamp.
Vane staggered.
Roman entered and blocked the doorway.
Vane stared at him.
“I made you rich.”
“You made me disposable.”
Vane reached for a second weapon.
Roman seized him and slammed him onto the desk.
Sarah pressed Vane’s arm behind his back.
Outside, federal vehicles approached.
Vane laughed against the wood.
“You think they’ll arrest me? I own people in every agency.”
Sarah removed a recorder from her pocket.
“You just admitted everything.”
His laughter stopped.
Roman looked at her.
“You expected him.”
“I hoped you were telling the truth.”
Vincent glanced toward the broken windows.
“You used my home as a trap.”
Sarah looked at him.
“You agreed not to execute people.”
“I did not agree to enjoy surprises.”
Federal agents entered the room.
Vane was taken away in handcuffs.
Roman raised his hands.
An agent recognized him.
“Roman Keller, get on your knees.”
Roman obeyed.
Before they led him out, he looked at Sarah.
“Novak left something for you.”
She stepped closer.
“What?”
“A letter. Vane kept it in a secure archive.”
“Why?”
“Insurance.”
“Where is it?”
Roman gave her a code and location.
Then he turned to Vincent.
“You should replace your doors.”
Vincent looked at the shattered entrance.
“This is becoming expensive.”
Roman was escorted outside.
Sarah remained in the library.
Vincent approached her.
“You have spent years believing you failed a man who was betrayed by his own government.”
“I left him behind.”
“You followed orders.”
“That doesn’t absolve me.”
“No,” Vincent said. “But perhaps the letter will.”
She looked toward Elena’s portrait.
“Do you ever stop blaming yourself?”
“For my wife?”
“Yes.”
“Not yet.”
“Then why do you expect me to?”
Vincent stood beside her.
“I don’t. I only hope you stop believing guilt is the same as loyalty.”
Sarah turned toward him.
“And what will you do now?”
May you like
Vincent looked around the damaged estate.
“Something I should have done eleven years ago.”
