Chapter 76
the woods were alive with the sound of approaching helicopters and distant sirens. the cartel hitmen who had survived the firefight were scrambling, realizing their empire had just been exposed to the entire world. i ran blindly through the wet pine needles, calling out for mia and leo in a frantic whisper. i found them huddled in a hollowed-out tree trunk, shivering and clutching each other. i gathered them into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably as the spotlight of a blackhawk helicopter swept over the tree canopy. the nightmare was ending. heavily armed fbi agents swarmed the property, securing the perimeter and shouting orders. a medic rushed toward us, wrapping thick thermal blankets around the children. as they led us toward the armored transport vehicles, the cabin behind us finally went up in flames.
