Chapter 9 - The Final Trap
Despite Moretti’s public humiliation, a desperate, cornered rat is always the most dangerous.
At two o'clock in the morning, as the convoy of black armored SUVs was returning to the Mercer Island estate from the gala, the rear vehicle carrying Marcus and the security detail was suddenly rammed off the floating bridge by a heavy semi-truck.
BOOM!
A massive explosion lit up the dark waters of Lake Washington.
Inside the lead armored Mercedes, Ethan instantly reacted. “Driver! Floor it!”
Before the driver could accelerate, two heavy black pickup trucks slammed into the front and side of Ethan’s car, pinning the bulletproof Mercedes against the concrete barrier of the bridge.
Masked gunmen poured out of the pickup trucks, spraying automatic gunfire against the reinforced bulletproof glass of Ethan’s car.
Inside the back seat, Sophie screamed, pulling Amy down into the footwell, covering her child’s body with her own emerald gown.
“Stay down!” Ethan barked, pulling two heavy pistols from under his seat.
The driver was hit through the windshield seam, collapsing over the wheel.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He kicked open his rear door, using the heavy bulletproof door as a shield, and began firing with terrifying, surgical precision.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Four attackers fell instantly onto the wet pavement.
Suddenly, Sal Moretti stepped out from the shadows behind the semi-truck, holding a heavy grenade launcher aimed directly at the car.
“It’s over, Cole!” Moretti screamed frantically, his eyes wild with insane rage. “If I lose Seattle, you die with me!”
Inside the car, Sophie saw Moretti aiming the rocket directly at Ethan’s back.
Driven by pure, primal instinct to protect the man who had saved her life, Sophie kicked open her side door, grabbed a heavy brass fire extinguisher from under the front seat, and threw it with all her strength straight at Moretti’s face.
CRACK!
The heavy brass cylinder struck Moretti squarely across his nose, shattering his jaw, forcing his rocket shot to fly wildly into the night sky, exploding harmlessly over the open lake.
Moretti stumbled backward, screaming in pain, dropping the launcher onto the wet ground.
Ethan spun around, saw what Sophie had done, and moved like a lightning bolt.
He closed the distance, grabbed Moretti by his lapels, lifting the heavy boss completely off his feet, and slammed him violently over the concrete bridge barrier.
Moretti hung precariously over the dark, freezing waters fifty feet below, gasping for air through his broken jaw.
“Please... Ethan... mercy!” Moretti choked out, weeping in sheer terror.
Ethan looked down at him with cold, unforgiving eyes.
“You threatened my wife,” Ethan whispered flatly.
Ethan opened his hand.
Moretti screamed as his body fell through the darkness, splashing into the icy depths of Lake Washington, vanishing forever beneath the black waves.
Silence returned to the rain-slicked bridge, save for the crackle of burning debris and the distant sirens of approaching police cars.
Ethan turned back to the car.
Sophie was standing by the open door, rain soaking her magnificent emerald gown, her hair falling wild around her shoulders, panting heavily as she held Amy tightly against her hip.
Ethan walked over to her, his long arms reaching out, wrapping around both of me, pulling them tight against his heart.
“You saved my life, Sophie,” Ethan murmured into her hair, his voice thick with raw, overwhelming emotion.
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Sophie buried her face into his wet shoulder, letting out a long, shuddering sob of pure relief.
“We protect each other, Ethan,” she whispered softly. “That’s what families do.”
