Chapter 9 - The Dust Settles
The cleanup took hours.
When the estate was finally secure, the bodies removed, and the perimeter locked down with double guards, Damian walked up the stairs to the master wing. He found Silas sitting on the floor outside the reinforced door, wiping blood off his knives, nursing a gunshot graze on his shoulder.
"They're safe," Silas grunted, nodding to the door. "Four guys tried. Four guys failed."
Damian helped his friend up. "Thank you, brother."
Damian unlocked the heavy door. Inside, Sarah was sitting on the floor, the gun aimed steadily at the door, her body shielding Lily, who was fast asleep on the bed, clutching her rabbit.
When Sarah saw it was Damian, she dropped the gun and burst into tears.
Damian crossed the room in two large strides, dropping to his knees and pulling Sarah into his arms. He held her tight, burying his face in her hair. She smelled like vanilla and ozone, and she was shaking uncontrollably.
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"It's over," Damian murmured, kissing the top of her head. "He's gone. The men who hurt my family are gone. You are safe. You are never going to be hunted again."
Sarah clung to his bloodstained shirt, weeping not just from fear, but from relief. For the first time in her life, someone strong enough to fight the monsters had stood in front of her.
