Chapter 20 - The Eternal Bloom of Chicago
The breaching charge exploded with a concise metallic pop,
shattering the lock and throwing the heavy doors open.
Gideon stepped into the opulent sky-lounge,
his assault rifle raised,
his presence commanding absolute dread.
Colonel Vance Sterling turned instantly,
raising his rifle,
but Gideon was faster.
Gideon fired a precise two-round burst that struck Sterling squarely in the chest armor,
knocking him backward through the floor-to-ceiling glass window.
Sterling screamed as he fell three stories down into the freezing,
churning waters of Lake Michigan below,
swallowed instantly by the dark waves.
The remaining guards dropped their weapons,
raising their hands in absolute surrender as Lucas covered them with his weapon.
Lord Alexander Montgomery slowly set his crystal wine glass down on the polished mahogany table.
He was sixty-five years old,
dressed in a bespoke Savile Row suit,
his silver hair neatly combed back.
His face was pale,
his physical frame frail,
yet his eyes retained an aura of terrifying aristocratic arrogance.
"Gideon Crosswell,"
Montgomery spoke,
his voice smooth,
refined,
and utterly devoid of remorse.
"You have destroyed millions of dollars worth of my property tonight,"
he said calmly,
adjusting his gold ring.
"All for the sake of two street orphans who mean nothing to the grand design of the world."
Gideon stepped forward,
the barrel of his rifle pointing directly at Montgomery’s chest.
"They mean everything to me,"
Gideon said,
his voice resonant with an absolute,
unshakable power.
"You thought your wealth and your nobility placed you above human life,"
Gideon continued,
stepping closer.
"You thought you could buy the blood of innocent children to prolong your miserable existence."
Montgomery smiled faintly,
leaning back in his chair.
"I can give you ten billion dollars,
Gideon,"
Montgomery offered smoothly,
without a trace of fear.
"I can make you the undisputed king of the entire Western Hemisphere."
"All I ask is for the child."
Gideon looked into the eyes of the billionaire monster who had orchestrated the death of his four-year-old daughter Ren.
"My daughter's name was Ren,"
Gideon whispered gently.
"And her memory is not for sale."
Gideon pulled his sidearm from his holster,
placing the cold steel barrel against Montgomery’s forehead.
"No... wait—"
Montgomery gasped,
realizing for the very first time that his billions could not buy his way out of justice.
A single gunshot echoed inside the sky-lounge,
cutting through the sound of the howling wind and rain outside.
Lord Alexander Montgomery slumped sideways in his leather chair,
his reign of terror permanently brought to an end.
Gideon turned to Lucas,
his expression calm and peaceful.
"Scuttle the ship,"
Gideon ordered softly.
"Let the deep lake take every piece of this evil away forever."
Three months later,
the warm spring sun shone brightly down upon the city of Chicago.
The cold ice of winter had completely melted away,
replaced by fresh green grass and clear blue skies.
At the Crosswell estate,
the grand garden behind the mansion was transformed into a breathtaking sea of vibrant yellow sunflowers.
Hundreds of giant blossoms turned their faces proudly toward the bright morning light,
swaying gently in the warm spring breeze.
Gideon stood on the stone porch,
wearing a comfortable linen shirt,
holding two cups of fresh orange juice.
Out in the garden,
Clara and little Lily were running through the rows of tall green stalks,
their happy,
carefree laughter filling the air like a beautiful symphony.
Elena and Lucas stood near the garden gate,
smiling as they watched the children play safely in the warm sunlight.
Lily ran up the porch steps,
her cheeks glowing,
holding a massive,
perfectly bloomed sunflower in her small hands.
"Look,
Daddy Gideon!"
Lily cheered happily,
holding the golden flower up toward him.
"The happy flowers came back!"
Gideon knelt down,
wrapping his arm around Lily while pulling Clara close to his side.
He looked out over the blooming garden,
then up at the bright,
endless sky above.
The darkness was gone.
The blood was washed away.
May you like
And in the shadow of Chicago,
Gideon Crosswell had finally found his home.
