Chapter 147
Chapter 147
Isabella's POV
At three in the morning, the comm device finally lit up.
I lunged for it. "Gabriel?"
"It's me." His voice came through calm and steady, though I could hear faint gunfire and explosions in the background. "Phase one complete. Aiden's diversion worked. Felix's main force is pinned at the front entrance."
"What about you?" I gripped the device, knuckles white.
"In the ventilation shaft." Gabriel's breathing was slightly labored. "Five more minutes and we'll reach the vault. Felix set traps, but we've cleared most of them."
A massive explosion roared through the speaker. My heart nearly stopped. "Gabriel!"
"I'm fine." His voice remained steady. "Felix just detonated a smoke grenade, trying to buy time. But he underestimated our equipment—we have thermal imaging."
"Be careful." My voice trembled. "Felix is prepared."
"I know." Gabriel paused. "Isabella, no matter what happens next, remember—I will come back to you."
The line went dead.
I collapsed into the chair, hands covering my face. The baby kicked restlessly inside me, as if sensing my fear. I forced myself to take deep breaths, trying to calm down.
Gabriel said he'd never failed. I had to trust him.
Another half hour passed before the comm device rang again. This time it was Aiden's voice. "Ma'am, Boss asked me to report—the south district shipyard cleanup is complete."
"What about Felix?"
"Dead." Aiden's tone was flat and emotionless. "Boss handled it personally. We recovered the ledger intact. Felix tried to blow the vault at the last second, but we stopped him in time."
I closed my eyes, relief flooding through me. "And Gabriel..."
"Boss is clearing the remaining locations." Aiden said. "The Donovan family still has two active weapons caches and one money-laundering front. Boss decided to eliminate them all today—no loose ends."
"Will it be dangerous?"
"No." Aiden's voice was calm. "Those sites are all small-time. Not a real threat. Felix was the last one with the ability to fight back. Now that he's dead, the rest are just lambs waiting for slaughter."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Tell Gabriel I'm waiting for him."
"I will."
The comm fell silent again. I walked to the window, watching the rain intensify. Water streamed down the glass, blurring the world outside. But I knew that somewhere in the city, Gabriel was clearing away every threat to me and our daughter.
---
Gabriel's POV
While Isabella waited in the manor study, trying not to imagine the worst, I crouched behind a shipping container at the shipyard's perimeter, rain soaking through my tactical gear. I surveyed the target through night-vision binoculars.
Aiden was positioned fifty meters to my left, hidden behind another container, monitoring the main entrance through his scope. The rusted iron gate hung half-open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond.
"Boss, we're ready," he reported quietly.
"Begin." I gave the brief order.
Aiden signaled to his team. Twelve operatives spread out silently, movements precise and deadly.
"Three, two, one—"
A flashbang flew through the gate, the white flash of explosion illuminating the darkness. Immediately gunfire erupted. Felix's men returned fire from cover, bullets sparking off the containers.
Aiden calmly squeezed the trigger. One, two, three—each shot found its mark. The team alternated cover and advance, taking down Felix's defenders one by one.
"Boss, front gate fire suppressed," Aiden reported. "Enemy approximately twenty men. Estimate full control in ten minutes."
"Copy. Continue advancing." I switched channels to check on the second team.
Xavier and his operatives had already approached from the rear waterway. The surface was black, garbage and oil slicks floating, stench overwhelming, but they moved through without complaint.
"Boss, we've reached the rear entrance," Xavier reported quietly.
"Wait for my signal." I watched the thermal imaging on my tablet. Two guards stood at the rear door, rifles slung casually, smoking and talking.
Waiting until Aiden's diversion reached its peak, I ordered, "Go."
Xavier burst from the shadows, his suppressed pistol coughing quietly. Both guards dropped. The team breached the door and flooded inside.
The interior was packed with wooden crates and steel drums. Xavier's operatives quickly located hidden enemies. Brief gunfire echoed. The rear entrance was sealed, no one could escape.
"Boss, rear entrance secured," Xavier reported.
"Copy." I checked my watch. Phase one proceeding smoothly. Now it was my turn to lead the team through the ventilation system.
"Boss, thermal imaging shows five targets in the vault," an operative reported quietly.
I nodded, pried open the ventilation access, and led the way in. The narrow shaft was dark and oppressive, only the green glow of night vision. We moved slowly forward, trying not to make noise.
Minutes later, we reached the position directly above the vault. I peered down through the grate. Felix stood before the safe, holding a black briefcase—the ledger.
Four armed guards stood alert around him.
"Ready?" I whispered.
"On your command."
I took a deep breath, kicked open the vent cover, and dropped from above. The instant I landed, my pistol was trained on Felix's head.
"Don't move."
Felix froze for a moment, then laughed. "Gabriel Sullivan! I knew you'd come!"
His hand shot toward his waist. I didn't hesitate. The bullet hit his wrist, blood spraying, the gun clattering to the floor. Felix screamed and staggered back.
My team dropped from the vent, weapons trained on the guards. Two guards raised their weapons and were instantly killed. The rest froze, not daring to move.
"You think you've won?" Felix said through gritted teeth. "Even if you kill me, the Donovan family won't disappear!"
"Is that so?" I stepped forward and kicked his knee, breaking it. Felix collapsed, howling in pain.
I opened the briefcase and confirmed the ledger was intact. Then I looked down at Felix.
"Any last words?"
Felix raised his head, eyes full of hatred. "I curse you, Gabriel. You'll regret this."
"I won't." I pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed through the vault. Felix fell, eyes open, staring at nothing. I holstered my weapon and turned to the team.
"Clean up and move out. We have three more targets tonight."
We retraced our route and regrouped with Aiden and Xavier. The rain had intensified, turning the shipyard into muddy wasteland, but my men stood straight.
"Next target—East District weapons cache." I pulled up the location. "No survivors. Blow it."
The team moved quickly. Aiden's demolitions expert placed C-4, Xavier's men secured the perimeter. The guards were eliminated before they could react.
Ten minutes later, the explosion lit up the night sky. The weapons cache became rubble. The Donovan family's arms network was crippled.
"Boss, emergency services responding," Aiden reported.
"Next location." I pulled up coordinates for the North District money-laundering front.
This was an antique shop. We couldn't use explosives. We breached the door. Six accountants and enforcers barely had time to react before being taken down. Then we ignited accelerant, flames consuming all evidence.
As we left, I watched the firelight flicker in the rainy night through the rearview mirror. One more target remained.
The West District weapons cache had tighter security. Knowing we were coming, they opened fire as soon as we arrived.
I quickly assessed the situation. Eight enemies, well-defended but chaotic. "Xavier, flank left. Aiden, suppressing fire. I'm breaking through the middle."
Under my team's covering fire, I swiftly breached their defenses, precisely taking down enemies. The remaining three surrendered at the sight of the bodies.
"Please, we're just hired security—"
"You knew enough." I ended his life with one shot.
Twenty minutes later, the warehouse was rigged with explosives. The blast lit up the sky once more.
As the sun rose, every Donovan stronghold was destroyed. All seventeen core members dead. I stood in the parking lot of the final site, watching flames consume the remnants of their empire. The rain had finally stopped, the air thick with the smell of wet concrete and smoke.
"Boss, cleanup complete." Aiden and Xavier approached, covered in blood and soot but eyes steady.
I nodded and dialed Douglas. "Mr. Sullivan?"
"I have something for you. One hour. Meridian Hotel, penthouse suite."
Hanging up, I told the team, "Good work tonight. Clean up and rest. Debrief this afternoon."
As they dispersed to the vehicles, I stood alone for a moment, gazing at the city. Dawn light broke through the clouds, painting the skyline a pale gold. Somewhere out there, Isabella was waiting for me. She'd probably been up all night, exhausted with worry.
I needed to get home to her. But first, one more thing had to be handled.