Chapter 11 - What Victor Had Been Hiding
Gabriel had escaped federal custody with help from a corrupt transport officer.
Eleanor had been bait.
Gunther understood too late.
His father wanted the original ledgers and Kayla.
Not because Kayla knew anything.
Because Gunther loved her.
He finally said the word aloud.
Loved.
Victor heard it.
“So we bring her home.”
They traced Gabriel to an old Woods shipping terminal.
Sam noticed something the others missed.
His mother had once drawn a map of the terminal.
A maintenance tunnel ran beneath it.
Gunther entered through the tunnel with Victor and federal tactical officers.
They found Kayla tied to a chair.
Gabriel stood behind her.
Gun in hand.
“Drop it, son.”
Gunther lowered his weapon.
Kayla shook her head.
“No.”
Gunther ignored her.
Gabriel smiled.
“Women make men weak.”
Gunther looked at Kayla.
“No.”
He pushed his gun across the floor.
“They give us something worth being strong for.”
Gabriel laughed.
Gunther kept him talking.
Victor moved through the shadows.
Kayla worked one wrist free.
Gabriel noticed.
He raised his gun.
Kayla threw herself sideways.
Gunther lunged.
The weapon fired.
Victor tackled Gabriel.
Agents rushed in.
Gunther crawled toward Kayla.
Blood covered her sleeve.
“Kayla.”
“I'm okay.”
He checked.
The bullet had grazed her arm.
Gunther pulled her against him.
She felt him shaking.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You didn't.”
“I love you.”
Kayla stared.
Gunther Woods had faced guns without blinking.
Now he looked terrified.
She touched his cheek.
“I love you too.”
Behind them, Gabriel was handcuffed.
It should have been over.
Then Victor searched Gabriel's coat.
He found a folded document.
He read it.
His face changed.
“Gabe.”
Gunther looked up.
“What?”
Victor handed him the document.
It was a legal transfer dated twenty-one years earlier.
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And according to the signature at the bottom, half of Woods Maritime belonged to Thomas Hughes.
Which meant its legal heirs were Kayla and Sam.
