Chapter 10 - The Fog Over the Marsh
A thick, grey fog rolled in from Lake Michigan, swallowing the winding wooden boardwalk that led down to the estate’s private boathouse.
Joseph moved silently through the tall reeds, his dark tactical gear blending seamlessly into the misty night.
Marcus took the left flank, while Audrey stayed close behind Joseph, clutching a small, suppressed pistol Marcus had taught her to load ten minutes prior.
“Stay down, Audrey,” Joseph whispered over his shoulder, crouching behind a rotting wooden piling.
Ahead of them, the boathouse lights cast a sickly yellow glow across the murky water where Julian stood holding a gun to Rose’s head.
“Salvini! I know you’re out there!” Julian’s voice echoed across the marsh, laced with desperate panic. “Drop the ledger on the dock and walk away, or her blood is on your hands!”
Rose looked pale, but her eyes were defiant as she stared directly into the fog where she knew Joseph was hiding.
“Don’t do it, Joseph!” Rose called out, her voice cutting through the damp air. “It’s a trap!”
Julian struck her across the cheek with the barrel of his pistol, sending a sharp wave of red fury straight through Joseph’s chest.
“Shut your mouth, bitch!” Julian snarled, tightening his grip around her neck.
Joseph stepped out from the tall reeds into the dim light of the boathouse, holding the black ledger openly in his left hand.
“Let her go, Julian,” Joseph demanded, his voice steady as a rock. “The ledger is right here. Take it and walk away.”
Julian grinned maliciously, backing toward the sliding wooden doors that opened directly onto the deep water where a getaway speedboat idled.
“Throw it across the dock, Joseph,” Julian ordered, keeping the gun pressed firmly against Rose’s temple.
Joseph tossed the heavy ledger across the wooden planks, watching it slide right to the edge of Julian’s boots.
Julian laughed, releasing Rose and lunging down to grab the book with one hand while keeping his gun trained on Joseph.
“You always were a fool for a woman, Salvini,” Julian mocked, his finger tightening on the trigger as he prepared to execute them both.
Before Julian could fire, a sharp crack echoed from the reeds behind him.
Marcus’s bullet struck Julian’s weapon hand, sending his pistol flying off the dock into the dark, murky water with a dull splash.
Julian screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding hand, but managed to dive backward into the waiting speedboat, pulling the throttle wide open.
“He’s getting away!” Marcus yelled, firing three rounds into the hull of the fleeing boat as it roared into the thick fog.
Joseph didn't fire; instead, he sprinted past the edge of the dock, dropping his weapon and catching Rose as she stumbled backward into his arms.
“Are you alright?” Joseph asked frantically, checking her face for injuries.
“I’m okay... I’m okay,” Rose breathed out, burying her face in his chest as Audrey rushed up to join them in a tight, desperate embrace.
Marcus lowered his rifle, watching the red taillights of the speedboat vanish into the dark lake.
“He got away with the ledger, boss,” Marcus said, stepping up behind them.
May you like
Joseph smiled faintly, wrapping his arms around both Rose and Audrey while shaking his head.
“Let him run,” Joseph said coldly. “Every single page in that ledger was encrypted with a tracking beacon. We’ll find him before he reaches the city limits.”
