Chapter 19: No More Running

The gunshot echoed throughout the abandoned Hamilton Steel Foundry.

For a brief second, everything seemed to freeze.

Devon stared in horror as someone stepped directly between him and Victor Kane.

"Marco!"

The bullet struck Marco in the side, throwing him backward.

He collapsed heavily onto the concrete floor.

"Boss!" Luca shouted.

Rage exploded across the warehouse.

Luca and the De Luca soldiers immediately opened fire on Victor's remaining mercenaries.

Within seconds, the foundry became a battlefield.

Victor backed away, a look of disbelief crossing his face.

"You idiot!" he shouted at Marco.

"You'd take another bullet for him?"

Marco forced himself onto one knee despite the pain.

"I'd do it again."

"You're pathetic," Victor sneered.

"Love makes people weak."

"No," Marco replied.

"It gives them something worth fighting for."

Devon's heart pounded.

Those words erased every doubt that had remained between them.

Marco hadn't protected him because of the Hamilton fortune.

He had protected him because he genuinely cared.

"Marco..." Devon whispered.

"Stay down!" Marco yelled.

"Finish this!"

Victor took advantage of the distraction and sprinted toward the staircase leading to the rooftop.

"He's escaping!" Luca shouted.

"After him!"

Devon didn't hesitate.

Ignoring the chaos below, he chased Victor up the rusted metal stairs.

The old structure shook beneath their feet.

Rain had begun falling outside, making every step dangerously slippery.

Victor reached the rooftop first.

A black helicopter waited with its blades already spinning.

The pilot waved frantically.

"Move!" he shouted.

"We have to leave!"

Victor ran toward the aircraft.

"Not today!" Devon yelled.

He tackled Victor from behind just as the crime boss reached the helicopter door.

Both men crashed onto the wet rooftop.

Victor slammed his elbow into Devon's ribs.

"You should've stayed in your comfortable little life," Victor growled.

"You were never meant for this world."

"Maybe not," Devon answered.

"But I'm ending it anyway."

Victor pulled a combat knife from inside his jacket.

The blade gleamed beneath the helicopter lights.

"Then die with your family legacy."

He lunged.

Devon barely rolled aside.

The knife scraped across the rooftop, sending sparks into the rain.

Victor attacked again.

This time the blade sliced across Devon's shoulder.

Pain shot through his body.

But he refused to back away.

"You're finished," Victor hissed.

"Without Marco, you're nothing."

"You're wrong," Devon replied, breathing heavily.

"Marco taught me something."

"What's that?"

"Stop running."

Victor charged once more.

Instead of retreating, Devon stepped forward.

He caught Victor's wrist with both hands.

The knife clattered onto the rooftop.

The two men struggled dangerously close to the roof's edge.

Below them, police sirens echoed through the city.

"Police!" the pilot shouted.

"They're surrounding the building!"

Victor looked toward the streets below.

Dozens of police vehicles blocked every exit.

Snipers had already taken positions on nearby rooftops.

"Impossible..." Victor muttered.

"How did they find us?"

A familiar voice answered from behind.

"Because I called them."

Benjamin Hamilton slowly stepped onto the rooftop with Richard beside him.

"Your empire is over, Victor."

"You old fool!" Victor screamed.

"You think prison scares me?"

"No," Benjamin replied.

"But losing does."

Desperate, Victor shoved Devon away and ran toward the helicopter.

"Take off!" he ordered.

The pilot hesitated.

"Now!"

Before the helicopter could lift off, a precise gunshot rang out.

The rotor exploded into sparks.

The aircraft spun violently before shutting down.

Everyone turned toward the staircase.

Marco stood there.

Blood stained the side of his shirt.

He held a pistol with both hands.

"Flight's canceled," he said calmly.

Victor stared at him in disbelief.

"You should be dead."

"You keep underestimating my doctors."

Victor looked around desperately.

Police.

Marco.

Luca.

Benjamin.

Richard.

Devon.

There was nowhere left to run.

With a furious roar, Victor charged directly toward Marco.

"If I'm going down..."

"I'm taking you with me!"

Marco raised his pistol.

"Don't!" Devon shouted.

"We need him alive!"

Marco lowered the barrel at the last second.

Victor slammed into him.

Both men crashed against the rooftop railing.

The old metal barrier bent under their combined weight.

A loud crack echoed through the roof.

The railing gave way.

Victor lost his balance.

His eyes widened with terror.

He desperately reached for Marco's arm.

"Help me!"

For one long second...

Marco looked directly into Victor's eyes.

Then he slowly pulled his arm away.

"Every choice has consequences."

Victor Kane screamed as he fell from the rooftop into the darkness below.

The police rushed forward immediately.

Luca looked over the edge before turning back toward Marco.

"It's over, Boss."

Marco nodded silently.

But before anyone could celebrate...

He suddenly staggered.

The fresh wound reopened completely.

His pistol slipped from his hand.

Devon barely caught him before he collapsed.

"Marco!"

Marco smiled weakly.

"Guess... I really should've stayed in the hospital."

His eyes slowly closed once again.