Chapter 19 - BRUNO'S FINAL CHASE
Harlan had bribed a transport medic and stolen a marshal's uniform.
He was not trying to escape the courthouse.
He was trying to reach Elena.
Bruno's barking came from the witness corridor. I broke away from the marshals before anyone could stop me. Chains caught around my ankles, but I ran anyway.
Harlan appeared at the far end holding Elena by the shoulder. A stolen pistol pressed against her side.
"Open the garage," he shouted. "Or the miracle child dies for real."
Rosa screamed. Tomas moved forward, but Brooks blocked him.
Bruno crouched between us, waiting.
Elena looked terrified. She also looked directly at the dog.
Then she dropped her purple sneaker.
Bruno lunged.
Elena fell flat as his body struck Harlan's arm. The gun fired into the ceiling. I hit Harlan before he recovered, driving him against the wall. Brooks kicked the weapon away.
Harlan reached for a knife inside the uniform.
Tomas seized his wrist.
For one second, the grieving father had the man who destroyed his family completely helpless.
"Do it," Harlan whispered. "Become what he is."
Tomas looked at me.
I shook my head.
He released the knife and stepped back.
"My daughter lives," he said. "You do not get to take me too."
Agents cuffed Harlan.
Elena wrapped her arms around Bruno and buried her face in his neck. The dog trembled harder than she did.
The courthouse attack erased the last sympathy Harlan's defense had manufactured. His own recorded threats were played at trial. Enzo, Chase, Vale, Raines, Fallon, Marco, and the buyers faced separate sentences.
Weeks later, I was transferred to federal prison.
Before the bus left, Brooks handed me a sealed envelope from Elena.
Inside was another drawing.
This one showed La Estrella rebuilt, children eating at long tables, and Bruno asleep near the door.
On the back she had written a question.
WILL YOU COME WHEN YOU ARE DONE?
May you like
I folded the paper carefully.
For the first time in my life, I wanted a future more than I wanted power.
