Behind him, a shadow moved in the dark hallway.

Sophia stepped into the light of the desk lamp, her leather gloves wet from the storm.

She held a sleek black tablet in her hand, the screen glowing with system override codes.

“The gate is open, Elena,” Sophia said, looking directly at me.

“Sophia, what is happening?” I asked, my knees trembling.

“The empire is over, Marcus,” Sophia said, turning her gaze to my husband.

“I transferred the terminal codes to the federal prosecutors twenty minutes ago.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek.

“You betrayed me,” he whispered, his voice dangerously low.

“I saved us,” Luca said, stepping between Marcus and Sophia.

“The feds are on their way to the main office downtown right now.”

“They have the ledgers, the accounts, and the names of every captain on the payroll.”

Marcus lowered the gun slightly, his fingers loosening around the textured grip.

“You destroyed everything our father built,” Marcus said.

“Father died in a federal penitentiary, Marcus,” Luca said.

“I wanted a different life for us, and I wanted Elena’s baby to have a father who isn’t in a casket.”