Chapter 9 - The Fall of the Queen
Red and blue emergency lights flashed violently through the massive glass windows of the estate.
Victoria hit the floor, screaming hysterically as an FBI agent roughly pulled her arms behind her back.
The cold metal handcuffs clicked shut around her wrists.
It was the exact same sound that had terrified my sons just days ago.
"Get your hands off me!" Victoria shrieked, kicking wildly at the officers.
"I am Victoria Sterling!"
"I own this city!"
"You don't own anything," I said coldly, walking over to stand above her.
"Every camera in this room just live-streamed your entire murder plot directly to the federal authorities."
"You are going to prison for the rest of your miserable life."
Marcus was already in cuffs, weeping like a pathetic child as two agents dragged him out the front door.
He didn't look like a master manipulator anymore.
He looked like the cowardly rat he truly was.
"Arthur, please!" Victoria sobbed, suddenly changing her tactic.
She looked up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes, trying to play the victim one last time.
"He made me do it!"
"Marcus manipulated me!"
"I love you, Arthur, please don't let them take me!"
I felt absolutely nothing looking at her.
No love, no pity, no regret.
"You didn't just try to kill me," I whispered, my voice cold and hollow.
"You tried to take a father away from his children."
"You framed an innocent girl who loved those boys."
"You are a monster, Victoria."
"Take her away," I commanded the lead agent.
I turned my back as she was dragged screaming out of the grand foyer, her designer dress dragging across the floor.
The sprawling mansion suddenly felt incredibly quiet.
The poison was finally gone from my home.
I walked slowly up the grand staircase, my heart finally beating at a normal, steady rhythm.
I unlocked the heavy door to the west wing.
Leo and Julian were sitting up in bed, their eyes wide and frightened.
I sat down on the edge of the mattress, pulling them both into a tight, unending hug.
"Is the monster gone, Daddy?" Leo whispered, burying his face in my chest.
"Yes, buddy," I said, a tear finally escaping my eye and rolling down my cheek.
"The monster is gone forever."
"And tomorrow, we are going to go get Elena and bring her home."
Julian let out a happy, muffled cheer against my shoulder.
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For the first time in weeks, I took a deep, clean breath.
The nightmare was finally over.
