Chapter 19 - The Bloodline Legacy
"She said your time is up, Arthur," Daniel whispered.
From the shattered ceiling above them, the skylight violently exploded inward in a shower of reinforced glass and rain.
"FBI! DROP YOUR WEAPONS! NOBODY MOVE!"
Four tactical operators from the Hostage Rescue Team rappelled down heavy nylon ropes, their assault rifles drawn and laser sights painting Arthur Vance’s chest in intersecting red dots.
Marcus had not just updated Daniel’s security; he had patched their body cameras directly into the FBI’s Counter-Terrorism Command Center the moment they entered the Adirondack valley. Every confession, every word Victoria and Arthur had uttered, had been broadcast live to a federal grand jury.
"DROP THE DETONATOR, VANCE!" the lead federal agent barked.
Arthur Vance’s face turned gray. His cold, calculating arrogance evaporated in an instant. He looked at the laser dots on his chest, then down at the remote in his hand.
Victoria, however, was past reason. With a feral shriek of rage, she brought the submachine gun up, aiming directly at Eleanor's chest.
*BANG!*
Hannah fired.
The nine-millimeter hollow point caught Victoria in the shoulder, spinning her around. The submachine gun clattered to the floor. Before Victoria could recover, Marcus closed the distance, his boot slamming into her chest, pinning her to the floor while two federal agents secured zip-ties around her arms and legs.
Arthur Vance dropped the detonator onto the tiles. He raised his hands slowly, his lips trembling. "I demand my attorneys."
"Your attorneys were arrested thirty minutes ago in Manhattan, Arthur," Marcus said, snapping heavy steel cuffs over the old man's wrists. "Your empire is finished."
Medics swarmed Room 314, immediately securing Eleanor onto a stabilization stretcher. Daniel held her hand every step of the way down the service ramp into the awaiting medical evacuation helicopter.
As the blades whipped the cold mountain air into a frenzy, Eleanor looked at Daniel, her eyes clearer now, the fog slowly lifting. "Clara... take me to my baby, Daniel. Please."
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"We're going home, Eleanor," Daniel said, kissing her knuckles, hot tears streaming down his face. "We're all going home."
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