Cheating Wife Tried To Steal My $50M Inheritance — She Got Bullets, Fire, And A Shallow Grave Instead

Cheating Wife Tried To Steal My $50M Inheritance — She Got Bullets, Fire, And A Shallow Grave Instead

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cheating X tried to steal my fifty million dollars inheritance.
She got bullets, fire and a shallow grave instead. The
Montana sky hung low and gray, pressing down on Cormac
mac calloway like an unwelcome hand on his shoulder. Rain
threatened but refused to fall, just as Augustus Calloway had
refused to give anything during his life. Now his father's

(00:20):
polished mahogany casket sat before him, waiting to be lowered
into the cold ground. Max stood ramrod straight, his military
bearing evident despite the five years since his discharge at
forty two. His face was weathered, his eyes hard as
gun metal beneath a furrowed brow. He didn't bother to
hide his indifference as the preacher droned on about a
man he clearly never knew. Next to him, seventeen year

(00:42):
old Sable shifted uncomfortably in her black dress. Mack glanced
down at his daughter, the only person who mattered in
his world, and saw her fighting back tears. Not for
her grandfather, a man she'd barely met, but for him,
for a father having to endure this charade. You okay, Mack,
whispered Sable, not, her dark hair falling across her face.
I'm fine, are you? Mac didn't answer the question, wasn't

(01:07):
worth acknowledging. The small gathering of business associates and distant
relatives stood around the grave, their expressions more curious than grieved.
Augustus Calloway had been respected for his wealth, feared for
his ruthlessness, but loved by no one, especially not his
only son. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, the preacher concluded,
offering the ceremonial dirt to Mac. Mac took the shovel,

(01:28):
scooped the earth, and let it fall onto the casket
with a hollow thud that echoed his emptiness. He handed
the shovel back without a word and turned away. Aren't
we supposed to stay until they lower it? Sable asked,
hurrying to keep pace with his long strides. He's dead,
doesn't matter anymore. Mac headed toward his truck, a battered
black Ford that stood out among the luxury vehicles. Mister Calloway.

(01:50):
Mac kept walking, mister Calloway, please, he stopped and turned.
A balding man in an expensive suit trotted toward them,
clutching a leather portfolio to his chest. Mister Jenkins, Max said, flatly,
recognizing his father's attorney. The reading of the will is
scheduled for four today, Jenkins said, slightly out of breath.

(02:11):
Your father was most insistent that you attend. Mac checked
his watch. Two hours from now. Fine. Jenkins blinked, surprised
by the easy acquiescence. Excellent, My office downtown. You know
the address, I remember, the attorney hesitated. Your father left
specific instructions. I don't care. Mac cut him off. I'll
be there. That's all you need to know. Jenkins backed away, nodding, yes,

(02:33):
of course, my condolences again. Mac watched him retreat before
continuing to the truck. Sable climbed in without a word,
knowing better than to push conversation. When her father got
like this, The old truck roared to life, and they
pulled away from the cemetery, leaving Augustus Callaway and his
legacy behind. Or so Mac thought. Jenkins's office was all
polished wood and leather, reeking of money and pretension. Max

(02:56):
sat stiffly in a high backed chair, Sable beside him.
The attorney. He adjusted his glasses and carefully opened Augustus's
will as per mister Calloway's instructions. This reading is private
and limited to family members only. Jenkins glanced at the
empty chairs around them, which it seems is just the
two of you. Mac said nothing. His father had outlived
two wives and alienated every other relative. Shall we begin,

(03:19):
Jenkins cleared his throat. I, Augustus William Calloway, being of
sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be
my last will and testament. The legal jargon washed over
Mac like white noise. He tuned it out until Jenkins's
voice suddenly sharpened. To my son, Cormick William Calloway, I
leave my entire estate, including all properties, businesses, investments, and

(03:39):
liquid assets, currently valued at approximately fifty million dollars. Mac blinked,
Sable gasped beside him. This inheritance comes with no conditions
or stipulations, Jenkins continued. Kormick has always done as he pleased,
regardless of my wishes. I see no reason to attempt
to control him from the grave. Jenkins looked up. There's more,

(04:00):
but that's the essence of it. You are the sole heir,
mister Callaway. Max stared at the attorney, unable to process
what he just heard. Fifty million dollars, his father's entire fortune.
There must be a mistake, he finally said. Jenkins shook
his head. There's no mistake. Everything your father owned now
belongs to you. Why the question escaped before Mac could

(04:22):
stop it. He didn't share his reasoning with me, Jenkins replied,
But the will is ironclad. Max stood abruptly. How soon
can the transfer be completed? The paperwork is already prepared.
Once probate clears, which your father made arrangements to expedite,
the assets will be yours a month perhaps less. Mack nodded,
send everything to my ranch and your bill. Dad. Sable said,

(04:45):
her voice small. Are you okay? Let's go, he replied,
ignoring the question. Outside in the truck, Mac gripped the
steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. Fifty million dollars,
a fortune built on cutthroat business practices, on destroying live,
on breaking spirits, including his own. Dad. Sable tried again,
what are you going to do with all that money?

(05:06):
Max started the engine. Secure your future? But what about you?
Mac pulled out onto the street. I don't need anything.
Grandpa left you everything, she pressed. Doesn't that mean something?
It means he's playing games even from the grave. Max's
voice hardened. Augustus never gave without expecting something in return.
I don't understand. Mac glanced at his daughter, so young,

(05:27):
so innocent, despite the hardships she'd already faced. He's mocking me,
giving me what he knows I never wanted. But why
not just enjoy it, use it for something good. Max's
expression softened slightly. That's what I intend to do for you.
The rest of the drive passed in silence. Max's mind
churned with memories of belt lashings disguised as discipline of

(05:48):
coldness masquerading as strength of a childhood spent trying to
earn love that never came. Now in death, Augustus had
given him everything except the one thing Mac had ever
wanted from him. As they approach which the ranch, Sable
finally spoke again. I think I'm going to hang out
with Lyndon tonight. Clear my head. Mac nodded, be back
by ten, Dad, I'm seventeen ten, he repeated, his tone,

(06:10):
brooking no argument. Sable sighed, but didn't protest further. She
knew the boundaries, knew the reasons behind his protectiveness. Her
mother had taught them both painful lessons about trust. The
ranch came into view, twenty acres of land, surrounded by
a heavy fence, security cameras at strategic points. The house
itself was built like a fortress. Mac had designed it

(06:30):
that way after Annessa left after the threat started, a
place where he could keep Sable safe. He parked in
front of the house and killed the engine. Go change,
I'll make dinner before you head out. Sable hesitated, then
leaned over and hugged him awkwardly. I love you, Dad.
Max stiffened, then returned the embrace briefly, love you too, kid.
He watched her go inside, then sat in the truck

(06:50):
a moment longer, staring at nothing. Fifty million dollars wouldn't
change who he was. Nothing could do that, but it
might change what he could do for Sable, college without debt,
a future without limits. For that, he would accept Augustus's
blood money, but he would never forget what it had cost.
Night fell over the ranch, bringing with it a bitter
wind that rattled the windows. Max sat in his study,

(07:12):
a glass of whiskey untouched before him, staring at the
documents Jenkins had given him, property deeds, stock, certificates, bank accounts,
a paper trail of Augustus's empire. The security system chimed,
alerting him to a vehicle approaching the gate. Mac frowned,
checking his watch too early for Sable to be home.
He pulled up the security feet on his laptop. A

(07:32):
sleek black suv idled at the gate, headlights cutting through
the darkness. Max zoomed in on the driver's window as
it rolled down. His stomach clenched Anessa, five years since
he'd last seen her, since the divorce that had nearly
destroyed him. Her hair was different, shorter, dyed platinum blonde,
but her face was the same, beautiful and cold. The
passenger door opened and a man stepped out, tall, muscular,

(07:55):
with a shaved head and a jagged scar running down
one cheek. Mac recognized him immediate, Bryson Cad, the ex
Khan Vanessa had left him for after his last deployment.
But they weren't alone. The back doors opened and three
more men emerged, hard looking individuals with the unmistakable bearing
of criminals. Mac reached for his phone, hesitated, then set
it down, no point calling the sheriff in a town.

(08:18):
This small word of Augustus's death and the inheritance had
undoubtedly spread. Vanessa's timing was too perfect to be coincidence.
Mac walked to the front door, grabbing his jacket. A
glock nineteen sat in the safe by the entrance. Mac
punched in the code, removed the weapon, and tucked it
into his waistband at the small of his back. Then
he headed out to meet his past. The ranch's floodlights

(08:40):
illuminated the scene. As Mac approached the gate, Vanessa stood
with her arms crossed, Bryson looming beside her. The three
men spread out behind them a show of force. Max
stopped several feet from the gate, just out of reach. Vanessa.
Mac said his voice, steady Mac, She replied her tone, honey,
over ice, you're looking well. What do you want? She smiled,
all teeth and no warmth. I heard about Augustus, my condolences, bullshit?

(09:04):
What do you want? Is that any way to greet
your wife? Ex wife? Mac corrected the papers were finalized
five years ago. Vanessa's smile faltered, Yes, well about that.
I've been reviewing our divorce settlement and I feel it
was inequitable. Mac almost laughed, You got exactly what you
asked for everything that was before I knew about Augustus's fortune.

(09:25):
She took a step closer to the gate. Half of
that money is rightfully mine, Mac. Now he did laugh,
a harsh sound, devoid of humor. You're out of your mind.
Bryson moved forward, hands curling into fists. Watch how you
talk to her. Mac ignored him, keeping his eyes on Vanessa.
We were divorced long before my father died. You have
no claim to anything. Montana is an equitable distribution state,

(09:45):
she said, as if reciting a memorized line assets acquired
during marriage, or with the potential to be acquired based
on actions during marriage. Save the legal bullshit for someone
who cares. Mac cut her off. You're not getting a dime.
Ananessa's FASc cracked slightly, her eyes narrowing. You always were stubborn, Mac.
It's why we never worked. We never worked because you

(10:07):
were sleeping with half of billings while I was deployed.
Bryson surged forward, grabbing the gate. You son of a easy,
one of the men behind him said, putting a hand
on his shoulder. This man was different, calmer, better dressed,
with an air of authority. We're just having a conversation.
Mac assessed him quickly, mid forties, expensive watch, the confidence
of someone used to being in charge. Dangerous, and you are,

(10:29):
Mac asked, call me, Finn. The man offered a thin
smile on his lips. A business associate of your ex wife's.
What kind of business? The lucrative kind? Finn smiled didn't
reach his eyes. Miss Vaughan has retained our services to
help resolve this unfortunate dispute. Mac understood immediately the blood Crows.
He'd heard whispers about them, a Denver based gang expanding

(10:51):
their territory into Montana, dealing in everything from drugs to
murder for hire, and now Vanessa was involved with them.
There's no dispute, Max said evenly, just trespassing on private property.
Vanessa stepped forward again, placing her manicured hands on the gate.
Twenty five million, Mac, that's all I'm asking, half of
what's rightfully mine. Turn around, Nanessa, you're wasting your time.

(11:13):
Her expression hardened. That's where you're wrong, Mac, This is
my time now. Mac reached over and hit the control panel.
The gate slid shut in her face, locking with a
metallic click. For a moment he expected rage screaming threats
the Vanessa he remembered from their worst fights. Instead, she
simply smiled. That smile chilled him more than any outburst
could have. We'll be in touch, she said, turning back

(11:35):
to the suv. Finn lingered a moment longer, his eyes
measuring Mac consider her offer. Mister callaway, it would be
the sensible thing to do. Get off my property, Mack replied.
Finn nodded as if Mac had confirmed something for him,
then followed Vanessa and the others to the vehicle. Mac
watched them drive away, his hand resting on the glock
at his back. Something had changed in Vanessa. The woman

(11:57):
he married had been manipulative, selfish, even cruel, but this
calculated coldness was new and far more dangerous. Back inside,
Mac poured himself another whiskey and drank it in one swallow.
The burn in his throat was nothing compared to the
acid churning in his gut. Ananessa's reappearance, the Blood Crow's involvement,
It complicated everything. His phone rang sable. What's up, he answered,

(12:19):
trying to keep his voice normal. Is it okay? If
I stay out a little later? Lyndon and I are
going to catch a movie. Mac checked his watch. Eight
thirty be home by eleven, no later. Thanks Dad, love you,
love you too. Be careful. Mac hung up, debating whether
to tell Sable about Nanessa's visit. No, he decided, no
need to worry her yet, he'd handle this himself. Mac

(12:40):
walked to the window, staring out at the darkness beyond
the security lights. Vanessa wouldn't give up easily. She never had,
but neither would he not when it came to protecting
what was his. Augustus's money meant nothing to him, but
it meant everything to Vanessa, and that gave him leverage.
If she wanted a war, he'd give her one. This time,
he'd make sure she lost everything. Sable checked her phone

(13:00):
as she and Lyndon left the movie theater ten fifteen pm.
She had time to grab a quick bite at Dino's
Diner before heading home. Your dad's still being super strict. Huh,
Lindon asked, pulling her jacket tighter against the cold. He
has his reasons, Sable shrugged, unwilling to explain the complicated
history behind her father's protectiveness. Come on, you're practically an adult.

(13:20):
Doesn't he trust you? It's not about trusting me. Sable
led the way toward the diner, its neon sign casting
pink and blue light onto the sidewalk. It's about not
trusting everyone else. Lyndon rolled her eyes. This town is
like the most boring place on earth. What does he
think is going to happen? Sable bit her lip, remembering
the day her mother had left, the screaming, the threats,

(13:42):
the restraining order that came later. It's complicated. Inside Dino's,
they slid into a booth by the window. The diner
was nearly empty, just a couple of truckers at the
counter and an elderly couple in the corner. So Lyndon
leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. Is it true about
your grandpa leaving you guys a ton of money? Sable hesitated.
News traveled fast in Billings. Where did you hear that?

(14:05):
My dad works at the bank, he said, mister Jenkins
was talking about it. Fifty million dollars? Is that for real?
I don't know the exact amount Sable said, uncomfortably, but yeah,
my dad inherited everything. Holy shit, you're going to be
like the richest kid in school. It doesn't matter. Nothing's
going to change. Linden laughed, Are you kidding? Everything's going
to change? You could buy a new car, new clothes. Hell,

(14:27):
you could buy the school if you want. It's not
my money, it's my dad's, Sable said, picking at her napkin.
And he doesn't care about that stuff. Well, what about college?
You've always wanted to go to NYU? Right now you
totally can. Sable smiled slightly at that. Yeah, I guess
that part is cool. They ordered burghers and shakes, the
conversation drifting to school gossip and plans for the upcoming weekend.

(14:49):
By the time they finished eating, it was ten forty five.
I better get going, Sable said, leaving cash on the table.
Dad will freak if I'm late. Want me to walk
you to your truck? Lyndon offered, g nasts just across
the street. I'll text you tomorrow. They hugged goodbye, and
Sable stepped out into the night. The temperature had dropped further,
the wind biting through her jacket. She hurried across the

(15:10):
street toward the small lot where she'd parked her pick up.
The lot was poorly lit, most of the street lamps
either broken or dim. Sable fished her keys from her pocket,
quickening her pace. Something about the shadows between the parked
cars made her uneasy. She was halfway to her truck
when she heard footsteps behind her. Sable callaway. She turned.
A man she'd never seen before stood a few feet away, tall, wiry,

(15:33):
with a tattoo creeping up his neck. Who's asking, she said,
taking a step back, suddenly aware of how isolated the
parking lot was. The man smiled, revealing a gold tooth.
Got a message for your daddy. Before Sable could react,
someone grabbed her from behind, a hand clamping over her mouth.
She tried to scream to fight, but another figure appeared,
then another bring her. A female voice said. Sable's blood

(15:56):
ran cold. She knew that voice. They dragged her into
the alley beside the parking lot, three men holding her
while she kicked and struggled. A black suv was parked
at the alley's end, its engine running. Hello. Stepdaughter, Vanessa said,
stepping into the dim light, her face a mask of
cold fury. Sable stopped struggling, shock momentarily overriding fear. What

(16:16):
are you doing here? Teaching your father a lesson in cooperation?
Vanessa nodded to one of the men, Bryson, show her
what happens when Max says no to me. The largest
man stepped forward, shaved head, scarred face, eyes like empty holes.
Sable recognized him from pictures from her mother's social media
before her dad had made her block everything. Please, Sable whispered,

(16:37):
I haven't done anything to you. No, Bryson agreed, his
voice surprisingly soft, But your father has. His fists drove
into her stomach with such force that Sable doubled over,
unable to breathe. Pain exploded through her, and she would
have collapsed if not for the men holding her arms. Again,
Vanessa commanded another blow, this time to her ribs. Something

(16:58):
cracked Sable's vision swam black spots dancing at the edges.
The old man leaving everything to Mac wasn't part of
the plan, Vanessa said, conversationally, watching as Sable gasped for air.
I was counting on that money, Sable. Do you know
what it's like to count on something only to have
it ripped away? Sable couldn't answer, couldn't breathe, couldn't think
through the pain. Hold her up, Bryson said to the others.

(17:20):
They yanked her upright. Sable's head lulled forward, a strand
of bloody saliva hanging from her mouth. Your daddy thinks
he can shut me out, Vanessa crouched down, forcing Sable
to look at her. That he can keep what's rightfully mine,
but he forgets what I'm capable of. He'll kill you
for this. Sable managed each word in agony. Vanessa laughed.
He can try, but first he'll pay me what I'm owed.

(17:41):
She stood, brushing imaginary dirt from her designer pants. Make
sure she remembers this night. One of the men, younger
with a wispy beard and nervous eyes, laughed, how much
are we supposed to fuck her up? Boss? The third man,
who'd remained silent until now, answered enough to send a
message Ski, not enough to kill her. But Bryson wasn't listening.
He drove his fist into Sable's face. Her nose shattered,

(18:03):
blood spurting across her chin and neck. She tried to scream,
but only a gurgle emerged. That's enough, the third man said, sharply.
Not yet. Bryson hit her again, this time in the ribs,
where they had already cracked Sable vomited the contents of
her dinner spattering the alley floor. Goddamn, that's nasty, Ski laughed,
jumping back to avoid the splash. I said enough. The

(18:24):
third man grabbed Bryson's arm. Finn wants her alive. Bryson
shook him off one more. He leaned close to Sable,
his breath hot on her bleeding face. Tell your daddy,
this is just the beginning. He stepped back and kicked
her square in the face with his steel toed boot.
Sable's world exploded into white hot pain. Then darkness began
to creep in from the edges. She felt herself falling,

(18:45):
the men releasing her arms. The cold concrete pressed against
her cheek. Through a haze of pain and encroaching unconsciousness,
she heard Inanessa's voice, tell your daddy to give me
my half for next time. We won't stop. The last
thing Sable saw was Bryson's boot coming toward her face again.
Then nothing. Mac paced the living room, checking his watch

(19:05):
for the dozen time eleven thirty pm. Sable was never late,
not without calling. He tried herself three times straight to voicemail.
He tried Lindon's number. Next the girl answered on the
second ring, her voice sleepy, mister calloway, what's wrong? Is
Sable with you? No? She Leftnos around ten forty five
to head home. Mack's grip tightened on the phone. She

(19:27):
never made it. What but her truck. I'm going to
look for her. If she contacts you, call me immediately.
Mac hung up and grabbed his keys, A cold dread
settling in his gut, he knew, with a certainty of
a man who'd seen the worst humanity had to offer,
that Vanessa was behind this. He barely reached his truck
when his phone rang an unknown number. Callaway, He answered,

(19:48):
his voice tight, Is this the father of Sable Calloway?
A woman's voice, professional, unfamiliar. Yes, who is this? This
is Nurse Matthew's at Billings Memorial Hospital. Your daughter has
been admitted to the emergency. She was found unconscious in
an alley down town. The world seemed to tilt beneath
Mac's feet. Is she she's in critical condition? Mister calloway,

(20:08):
you should come right away. Mac didn't remember the drive
to the hospital. One moment he was in his truck,
the next he was running through the emergency room doors,
demanding to see his daughter. Sir, you need to calm down,
a security guard warned, stepping into his path. My daughter,
Sable Calloway. Where is she? A nurse appeared, her face grave.
Mister Calloway, come with me, please. She led him through

(20:30):
double doors into the trauma ward. The antiseptic smell, the
beeping monitors, the hushed voices, it all faded away. When
Max saw the figure in the bed. If not for
the dark hair, he wouldn't have recognized her. Sable's face
was swollen beyond recognition. A maze of purple bruises and
split skin. Tubes ran from her arms, her nose, her mouth.
A ventilator hissed rhythmically. Jesus Christ. Mac whispered, his knees

(20:53):
nearly buckling. She has multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung,
internal bleeding, and a severe cushion, the doctor explained, appearing
at his side. We've stabilized her for now, but she's
not out of danger. Who found her? A couple leaving
the movie theater they called nine to one one. Mac
approached the bed, slowly, afraid to touch her, afraid he

(21:13):
might somehow cause more damage. Sable looked so small, so
broken his little girl. We've notified the police, the doctor continued.
They'll want to speak with you when you're ready. Mac
nodded mechanically, not taking his eyes off Sable. Can I
have a minute alone with her? Of course. When the
room cleared, Max sank into the chair beside the bed.
His hand hovered over Sables, hesitating before gently taking it.

(21:35):
Her skin was cold. I'm here, baby girl, he whispered,
I'm right here. She didn't stir. Only the steady beep
of the heart monitor answered him. Max's vision blurred with tears.
He refused to shed. Tears wouldn't help Sable. Tears wouldn't
punish those responsible. But he knew who had done this,
knew why, And in that moment, something fundamental shifted inside him.

(21:56):
A line crossed, a decision made. Mac leaned forward, pressing
his lips to Sable's forehead. I promise you, Sable, he
whispered against her skin. They will all burn. Mac hadn't
moved from Sable's bedside. In thirty six hours. Nurses came
and went checking vitals, adjusting ivs, speaking in hushed tones
as if their words might shatter what little peace remained
in the sterile room. He sat rigid in the uncomfortable chair,

(22:18):
eyes fixed on the broken form of his daughter, listening
to the steady beep of machines keeping track of her life.
A doctor entered, different from the one who had been
there when Mac arrived, younger with tired eyes and a
clipboard clutched to his chest. Mister Callaway, I'm doctor Reeves.
I've been monitoring your daughter's condition. Mac didn't look up
any change. Her vitals have stabilized, doctor Reeves said, moving

(22:42):
to the opposite side of the bed. The swelling in
her brain has begun to subside, which is a good sign.
When will she wake up? The doctor hesitated, It's difficult
to say. The trauma was significant now. Mack looked up,
his eyes boring into the doctor's. That's not an answer.
The next twenty to four hours will be critical, doctor
Reeves said, meeting max gaze with practiced calm. If she

(23:04):
regains consciousness during that window, her chances improved dramatically. And
if she doesn't, let's not get ahead of ourselves. The
doctor checked the monitors, made a notation on his clipboard.
The human body is remarkably resilient. Mister Calloway especially in
someone young and healthy like your daughter. Max's jaw tightened.
She's seventeen. I know, Doctor Reeves's voice softened. The police

(23:26):
detective asked to speak with you when you're ready. He's
been waiting. I've got nothing to say to the police.
They need your statement to investigate. I know who did this,
Mac interrupted, his voice flat, and no badge is going
to bring them to justice. The doctor tensed, mister Calloway,
I understand you're upset, but you don't understand. Max stood,
towering over the younger man. You patch up the results,

(23:48):
you don't deal with the causes. That's not fair. Life's
not fair. Mac turned back to sable, effectively dismissing the doctor.
Tell the detective, I'm staying with my daughter, Doctor Reeves
but nodded. I'll let him know. Try to get some rest,
mister callaway. She'll need you at your best when she
wakes up. The door closed quietly behind him. Max sank

(24:08):
back into the chair, rubbing a hand over his face.
The stubble had grown into the beginnings of a beard,
rough under his palm. He couldn't remember the last time
he'd slept or eaten. It didn't matter, nothing mattered except
Sable and retribution. A soft knock at the door made
him look up. A nurse entered, different from the previous shift.
I brought you some coffee, she said, offering a steaming
cup black right. Mac nodded, accepting it without thanks. The

(24:32):
nurse didn't seem to mind, her attention already on Sable.
Poor thing. She murmured, checking the fourth What kind of
monsters would do this to a child? Mac didn't answer.
He knew the kind of monsters who followed Vanessa, the
kind who beat a teenage girl half to death to
send a message. The nurse finished her checks and left.
Max sipped the bitter coffee, his mind running through scenarios, plans, contingencies.

(24:54):
He needed weapons, information, a starting point. A slight movement
caught his eye, Sable's finger twitching against the white sheet.
Max set the coffee down hard, spilling it across the
side table. Sable, he whispered, taking her hand, can you
hear me? Her eyelids fluttered but didn't open. Her fingers
tightened weakly around his nurse. Max shouted, not taking his

(25:15):
eyes off his daughter. Someone get in here. The same
nurse rushed in, followed by doctor Reeves, who must have
been nearby. She moved, Max said, his voice cracking. She
squeezed my hand. Doctor Reeves moved to the bed, Pulling
a pen light from his pocket, he gently lifted one
of Sable's swollen eyelids, shining the light briefly. Pupillary response
is good. He repeated the process with the other eye. Sable,

(25:37):
can you hear me? If you can hear me, squeeze
your father's hand again. Mac held his breath. One second passed, two, three,
then unmistakably, Sable's fingers tightened around his That's it, doctor Reeves, encouraged.
You're doing great, Sable, can you try to open your
eyes for us? Her face contorted with effort, the bruises
shifting grotesquely but slowly painfully. Her eyes opened just a

(25:59):
sli through the swelling, but open Dad. The word was
barely audible, slurred through broken lips. I'm here, baby, Mac
leaned closer, his vision blurring with unshad tears. I'm right here, hurts,
she whispered. I know, we'll get you something for the pain.
Mac looked up at the nurse, who was already adjusting
the fourth This will help, she assured, them both. She'll

(26:21):
feel better soon. Doctor Reeves performed a quick assessment, checking
responses and vitals. This is a very good sign, mister Callaway.
I'll order another CT scan to make sure the swelling
continues to decrease. But her waking up this soon is
extremely encouraging. Mac barely hurt him focused entirely on Sable,
whose eyes kept drifting back to his face despite the

(26:42):
obvious effort it took to keep them open. Don't try
to talk, he told her. Just rest, You're going to
be okay. Sable's lips moved again, so faintly he had
to lean closer to hear mom. She whispered. It was mom.
Max's blood ran cold. He'd known, of course, but hearing
it can affirmed. Hearing that Sable had seen Vanessa during
the attack sent a wave of rage through him so

(27:04):
powerful it nearly took his breath away. I know, he said, quietly,
don't worry about that now. Tears leaked from the corners
of Sable's eyes, mixing with the bruises. Why would she
do this? Mac had no answer that would make sense
to his daughter, no explanation that could possibly justify what
had been done to her. She's sick, he said finally,
in ways I can't explain. But she won't hurt you again,

(27:25):
I promise. The doctor and nurse exchanged glances. Mac ignored them.
Let them think what they wanted, let them call the police.
It wouldn't change what was coming. The medicine is starting
to work, the nurse observed, as Sable's eyes began to
drift closed again. She needs rest now, Mac nodded, still
holding his daughter's hand. I'll be right here when you
wake up, he promised, But as Sable slipped back into sleep,

(27:48):
Mac knew he wouldn't be. He had work to do,
a war to start. The doctor and nurse left after
a few more minutes of observation. Mac waited until Sable's
breathing even doubt then gently laid her hand back on
the bed. He stood looking down at her battered face.
In his time as a marine, Mac had seen what
humans could do to each other, had done things himself
that would haunt a lesser man. But nothing, nothing had

(28:09):
prepared him for seeing his own child like this, Nothing
had forged his resolve like this moment. He leaned down
and kissed Sabele's forehead. I promise you, Sable, He whispered
against her skin, They will all burn. Mac straitened, a
deadly calm settling over him. He wouldn't be calling the police,
wouldn't be making statements or filing reports. Justice wouldn't come

(28:30):
from a court house. It would come from the barrel
of a gun. Mac drove back to the ranch under
a sky heavy with unshed rain. The air smelled of
ozone and wet earth, the promise of a storm matching
his mood. He needed a shower, a change of clothes,
and his weapons. Then he would begin hunting. The security
system chimed as he approached the gate. Mac frowned. Who
would be waiting for him here? He pulled up the

(28:52):
camera feet on his phone. A Billings County Sheriff's Department
cruiser idled at the entrance, Sheriff Tobias Griggs himself sitting
behind the way wheel. Max's eyes narrowed. The timing was
too convenient. Sable wakes up, mentions Vanessa, and suddenly the
sheriff appears at his door. If there was one thing
Mac had learned in combat, it was that there were
no coincidences in war. He pulled up to the gate

(29:14):
and rolled down his window. Sheriff Griggs nodded his jolly face,
attempting a solemn expression. Mac heard about sable, terrible thing.
What do you want? Just checking in? Thought you might
have some idea. Who did this? Max studied the man's face.
Griggs had been sheriff for fifteen years, running unopposed in
the last three elections, A good old boy who knew
everyone's business and made sure things ran smoothly, or so,

(29:36):
Mack had always thought, Why would I know something the
police don't, Mac asked carefully. Griggs shrugged. Just figured, what
with your ex wife showing up in town right before
this happened, it might be connected. Mac didn't react. You've
seen Nanessa. Word gets around. Griggs shifted in his seat.
Mind if I come in rather not have this conversation
through car windows. After a moment's hesitation, Mack opened the gate.

(30:00):
He led the sheriff to the house, watching the man's
eyes scan the property, noting defenses, escape roads, not the
behavior of someone making a simple condolence call. Inside. Mac
didn't offer coffee or a seat. He stood in the
center of the living room, arms crossed. Talk. Griggs removed
his hat, turning it in his hands, Like I said,
just checking in Sables. A good kid. Whoever did this

(30:22):
needs to face justice, and you're here to make sure
that happens. Mack's voice was acid. It's my job, your job,
Mack repeated, slowly. Funny, how your job didn't include keeping
the blood crows out of Billings. Griggs's eyes widened slightly
before he controlled his expression. Don't know what you're talking about.
I think you do. Mac took a step closer. I
think you know exactly who they are and what they're

(30:43):
doing here. I think you know they're working with my
ex wife, and I think you're getting paid to look
the other way. That's a serious accusation, Mac Griggs said,
his hand drifting toward his holster, the kind that could
get a man in trouble. Trouble, Mac laughed, a harsh
sound with no humor in it. My daughter is lying
in a host spittal bed, beaten half to death, and
you're talking to me about trouble. I'm sorry about Sable,

(31:05):
truly I am. But whatever you're thinking of doing, don't.
Griggs's voice hardened. Let the law handle this, the law,
Mac moved so quickly, Griggs had no time to react,
He grabbed the sheriff by the throat and slammed him
against the wall. You mean you the man on Vanessa's payroll.
I don't, Griggs choked as Mac's grip tightened. Don't lie

(31:25):
to me, Mac hissed, I saw you meeting with Calderfinn
at the West Side Motel two days ago, right after
Vanessa showed up at my gate. It was a bluff,
but Griggs's panicked expression confirmed Mac had guessed right. It's
not what you think. Griggs gasped. They approached me, threatened
my family. Save it. Mack released the sheriff, who slumped
against the wall, coughing, how much are they paying you?

(31:47):
Griggs rubbed his throat, eyes darting to the door. Ten
thousand a month to look the other way while they
set up shop. And what did Vanessa offer for dealing
with me? The sheriff pailed nothing, I swear. Mac moved
in again, grabbing Griggs by the front of his uniform
and dragging him across the room to his desk. He
slammed the man's head down onto the polished wood surface
with enough force to split the skin across his nose.

(32:09):
Blood sprayed across the papers. Tell me the truth, Mac demanded,
keeping the Sheriff's face pressed to the desk. Fifty thousand.
Griggs blurted, blood bubbling from his nostrils. To find something
on you. Get you locked up so she could file
for custody of sable. Max's grip tightened his knuckles white
against Griggs's uniform, and when that didn't work out, they

(32:30):
decided to beat her instead. I didn't know they'd hurt
the girl. I swear to God. Mack pulled Griggs's head
back and slammed it down again. The Sheriff's nose broke
with a wet crunch. God's not listening right now, Max said,
but I am tell me where they're operating from. I can't.
They'll kill me. I'll kill you if you don't. Mac countered,
his voice, calm, and I'll take my time. Griggs must

(32:52):
have believed him, because he started talking. Old mining camp
near the Bear Tooth Foothills. Finn bought it through a
shell company. They've got maybe twenty men up there, heavily armed,
running drugs in from Canada, distributing throughout Montana and Wyoming,
and Vanessa staying at the compound with Finn there together.
Mac absorbed this, his rage, settling into something colder, more focused.

(33:15):
Who else is on their payroll? Besides you? Two of
my deputies, the fire marshal, a judge. Griggs moaned as
blood continued to pour from his shattered nose. Please, Mac,
I got a family, so do I. Mac pulled the
sheriff upright, staring into his bloodied face. Here's what's going
to happen. You're going to pretend you never came here,

(33:35):
never saw me, never had this conversation. What are you
going to do? You don't want to know. Mac wiped
his bloody hand on Griggs's uniform. But if anyone comes
asking questions about me or looking for me, you're going
to be absolutely useless to them, understand. Griggs nodded his
eyes wide with terror. If I find out you warned
them I'm coming, I'll make sure your wife and kids
get to watch what I do to you. Are we clear?

(33:58):
We're clear? Griggs whispered, blood dripping from his chin. You're
going to pretend you never saw me coming. Good. Mack
released him, and the sheriff stumbled back, clutching his broken nose.
Now get out of my house. Griggs fled without another word,
leaving a trail of blood drops on the hardwood floor.
Mac watched through the window as the Sheriff's cruisers sped away.
Gravel sprang from the tires. He'd bought himself some time,

(34:21):
but not much. Griggs couldn't be trusted. The man was
a coward who'd sell out anyone to save his own skin,
which meant Mac needed to move fast. He walked to
the gun safe in his bedroom, punched in the code,
and began removing weapons. A Remington seven hundred sniper rifle,
his service pistol, a combat shotgun, ammunition for each. He
laid them on the bed, then added a tactical vest,

(34:43):
night vision goggles, and his old marine combat knife. Next,
he went to his study, where he pulled up maps
of the area on his computer. The bare Tooth foothills
covered hundreds of square miles, but old mining claims were
a matter of public record. It didn't take long to
identify several possibilities, and even less time to narrow it
down based on access roads and isolation. His phone rang

(35:04):
the hospital. Mac answered immediately, mister Calloway, this is Nurse Winters.
Your daughter is asking for you. How is she stable?
The doctor is pleased with her progress. She's in some pain,
but that's to be expected. Tell her I'll be there soon,
Mack ended the call. He wouldn't lie to Sable, but
he wouldn't tell her everything either, not yet, not until
it was over. Mac gathered what he needed, loading it

(35:26):
into his truck. One more stop before the hospital. He
needed to find the weakest link in the Blood Crow's chain,
and he knew exactly where to start. The sun had
set by the time Mac reached the eastern outskirts of Billings,
where ramshackle houses and trailer parks gave way to abandoned
industrial lots. This was where the city's forgotten lived, the attics,
the drifters, the criminals, too small time to afford anything better.

(35:48):
Mack parked his truck behind a defunct gas station and
continued on foot, a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.
He wore a nondescript jacket over his shirt, the glock
concealed at his waistband. Nothing about him, screamed ex Marine
on a revenge mission. The dealer had told him Ski
would be at a place the locals called the Tin Shack,
a dilapidated ranch house with aluminum siding that glinted dully

(36:10):
under the street lights. Three rusted cars sat in the
dirt yard, and the windows glowed with the sickly blue
light of television screens. Max circled the property once, noting exits.
The number of people inside based on shadows and voices,
four maybe five. One of them would be Ski, the
man who had laughed while his daughter vomited blood. He
waited in the shadows of a dead elm tree, watching

(36:32):
his Two men stumbled out the front door, arguing loudly
about money and drugs. Neither matched the description he'd gotten
of Ski. They climbed into one of the cars and
drove off, leaving three inside at most. Mack approached the
back of the house silent despite his size. A window
was cracked open, voices drifting out. Finn's gonna be pissed
you skim that much, a woman said, her voice raspy

(36:53):
from cigarettes or meth or both. Finn can suck my dick,
a male voice replied, young cocky, I did the job.
I deserve a bonus beating up some teenage girl. The
woman laughed, Real tough guy, Ski. Max's hand tightened on
the glock. Target confirmed. You should have seen her face.
When Bryson started in on her. Ski continued crying for
her daddy. Pathetic. Mac had heard enough. He moved to

(37:17):
the back door. Tested the handle unlocked. These people felt
safe in their squalor, protected by Finn's reputation. He entered silently,
finding himself in a filthy kitchen. The stench of chemicals
and unwashed bodies hit him like a wall. Threw a
beaded curtain. He could see into the living room where
the voices came from. Ski sat on a torn couch rail,
thin with stringy hair and tattoos crawling up his neck.

(37:39):
A pipe was in his hand, smoke curling around his face.
The woman sat across from him, her back to Mac.
Equally thin and dirty. Someone else's here, A third voice said, Mail,
deeper from somewhere Mac couldn't see. Max stepped through the
beaded curtain, gun raised. Nobody move, The woman screamed. Ski
froze the pipe halfway to his mouth. A third person,

(38:00):
a heavy set man with a patchy beard, emerged from
a hallway, reaching behind his back. Touch that gun and
you die first, Mac said, calmly, the man stopped, hands
raising slowly. Who the fuck are you, Ski demanded, eyes wide,
pupils dilated. The father of the girl you helped beat
half to death. Recognition dawned on Ski's face, followed by fear.

(38:21):
Fuck man, that wasn't personal, just business. This isn't personal either,
Mac replied, it's war. He shot the heavy set man
in the knee. The crack of the glock was deafening
in the small room. The man went down, screaming, clutching
his shattered joint. The woman bolted for the door. Mac
let her go. She wasn't his target, Jesus Christ. Ski
tried to stand, but Mack was across the room in

(38:42):
two strides, the barrel of the glock pressed against his forehead. Sit.
Ski sat, Please, man, I was just following orders. Finn
and that lady they said. I don't care what they said.
Mac grabbed Ski by the throat, dragging him off the
couch and throwing him into a wooden chair. You hurt
my daughter while she was beaten, I didn't. Mac backhanded him,

(39:03):
splitting his lip. Lie to me again, and I'll shoot
off your knee caps too. Mac glanced at the wounded man,
who's still howling in pain? Shut up or you're next.
The man bit down on his screams, reduced to whimpering.
Mac turned back to Ski. Where's Vanessa? The back of
Mac's hand cracked across Skey's face again, splitting his lip further.

(39:25):
My ex wife, blonde cold, working with Finn, the boss lady.
She's at the compound. Man with Finn. Where's the compound?
Ski hesitated. Mac pressed the gun under his chin, the
old Blackburn mine. Ski blurted off Rout seventy eight near
Red Lodge. How many men? I don't know? Fifteen twenty
they rotate through. Mac studied Ski's face. He was telling

(39:46):
the truth, but it wasn't enough. What's their security like
guards at the entrance, dogs patrolling the perimeter. Finn's got
snipers in the hills during the day and at night,
fewer men, but the dogs are worse. They're trained to
kill Mac. Who else was there when my daughter was beaten?
Just me, Bryson and Vance and your ex Vance Finn's
second in command, Cole Bastard. He's the one who said

(40:09):
to stop. Mac filed the name away and Bryson. Where
is he now? At the compound? He never leaves Finn's side.
Is my daughter the first person you've helped hurt? Ski
swallowed hard. No, how many others? I don't know? Man
a dozen Finn uses us to send messages. Mac's expression
didn't change, but something shifted in his eyes. He reached
into his jacket pocket and pulled out a zip tie.

(40:30):
Hands behind the chair. Wait please, Ski begged. I told
you what you wanted, and now you're going to tell
me more. Mac forced Ski's hands behind the chair and
secured them with the zip tie. He pulled out his
combat knife, the blade catching the dim light. Everything about
the compound, every entrance, every guard position, every weakness. Ski
stared at the knife, trembling. They'll kill me if I

(40:52):
tell you that, I'll kill you if you don't. Mac countered,
and I'll take my time For a moment. Ski seemed
to weigh his options, calculating his che ch answers. Then
he started laughing a high mannic sound. You're dead anyway, man,
you go against Finn, You're dead, You, your daughter, everyone
you care about. Mac didn't respond to the outburst. Instead,
he stepped forward and, with a quick, practiced motion, sliced

(41:15):
off Ski's left pinky finger. The laughter transformed into a scream.
Blood spurted from the wound, spattering across Ski's jeans and
the dirty carpet. That's one, Mac said calmly, I've got
nine more fingers to go through before I start on
other parts, Or you can tell me what I need
to know. You're crazy, Ski shrieked, staring at his maimed
hand in horror. No. Mac moved the knife to Ski's

(41:38):
ring finger. I'm at war, and in war there are casualties.
The knife began to press down. Ski broke wait, wait,
I'll tell you everything, and he did. Over the next hour.
In between sobs and pleas Ski detailed everything he knew
about the compound, guard rotations, the location of Finn's quarters,
the building where they kept their weapons. He drew a

(41:59):
crude map with his remaining hand once Mac untied him,
marking entrances and blind spots. By the time he finished,
Ski was missing three fingers from his left hand, and
Mac had used the tip of his knife to remove
the man's right eye when he tried to hold back information.
That's all I know, I swear to God, Ski whimpered,
clutching his mangled hand. Against his chest, blood soaked his shirt,

(42:19):
dripping from the empty socket where his eye had been.
The other man had passed out from pain and blood loss.
Max studied the map, committing it to memory. Where's Nanessa staying?
Which building with Finn? The main house, second floor east side.
Mac folded the map and tucked it into his pocket.
He looked at Ski, who was swaying in the chair,
face pale from shock and blood loss. Please, Ski whispered,

(42:41):
you got what you wanted, Let me go, Let you go.
Mac tilted his head so you can warn them I'm coming.
I won't I swear you beat my seventeen year old daughter.
You laughed while she bled. Mac raised the glock, no
second chances. The shot echoed through the small house. Ski's
body slumped in the chair, a neat hole in the
in the center of his forehead. Mac wiped down anything

(43:02):
he'd touched, then left through the back door. The other
man was still unconscious but alive. Mac left him that
way a witness who could spread the message. He drove
to the outskirts of town to an old railroad bridge
spanning a ravine. The place was deserted at this hour.
Mac parked, then opened the trunk where he'd stored Ski's
body wrapped in a tarp. It took less than ten

(43:22):
minutes to secure the corpse to the bridge railing with wire,
leaving it hanging for all to see. A message, just
as Sable's beating had been meant as a message, but
Max's message was clearer. This is only the beginning. As
he drove toward the hospital, rain finally began to fall,
washing the blood from the bridge and from Max's hands,
but nothing would wash away what was coming. The war

(43:43):
had begun. The discovery of Ski's mutilated body hanging from
the railroad bridge sent ripples through billings. By sunrise, everyone
connected to the Blood Crows knew that someone had declared
war on them, and they all knew who that someone was.
Max sat in his truck outside the hospital, watching the
morning shift nurses file in. He'd spent two hours with
Sable during the night, enough time to see improvement in

(44:04):
her condition, enough time to strengthen his resolve. The doctors
had reduced her pain medication, allowing her to speak more clearly.
Did you do it? She had asked, her voice barely
a whisper. Mac hadn't pretended to misunderstand. Yes good. That
single word from his daughter's broken lips had been all
the absolution he needed. His phone buzzed an unknown number.

(44:25):
Mac answered, without speaking, You stupid son of a bitch.
Sheriff Griggs's voice tense and hushed. Do you know what
you've done? Sent a message? Mac replied, calmly, you started
a war you can't win. Finn's called in reinforcements from Denver.
They're coming for you, Mac, coming hard. Let them come
listen to me. Griggs lowered his voice further. They found
me this morning. Want to know what I told you.

(44:47):
I covered for you, but they're watching me now. They
want your location, and you're calling to warn me. Mac's
voice dripped with skepticism. I'm calling because I got a family.
Damn it. They threatened my kids, Mac, my kids. Mac
considered this, What do they want from you? To set
you up? Tell you I've got information, get you to
meet me somewhere isolated, and you'd do that for them?

(45:09):
A pause. I would have to save my family. Then
do it? What call them? Tell them I agreed to
meet you tonight at my ranch. Griggs was silent for
a moment. That's suicide, not for me, Mac. They'll bring
everyone they've got, twenty maybe thirty men. Good saves me
the trouble of hunting them down. You're insane. No, I'm
at war. Mac watched a doctor hurry into the hospital

(45:31):
late for a shift. Set it up. Tell them I'll
be alone at the ranch tonight, panicking, getting ready to run.
They won't believe that, not after what you did to Ski.
Make them believe it. Tell them I didn't expect the
fallout that I'm in over my head. Tell them whatever
you need to. Another long pause. You better know what
you're doing. One more thing, Griggs, if anything happens to
my daughter while I'm dealing with this, I'll hold you

(45:52):
personally responsible. I can post a deputy at the hospital,
one you trust, not one on Finn's payroll. Done. Mac
ended the call. The trap was baited. Now he needed
to prepare. He drove to a hardware store in the
next county over, where no one knew him, purchasing propane tanks, fertilizer, nails, wire,
basic components for improvised explosives, something he'd learned in Afghanistan.

(46:15):
Then to a hunting supply store for more ammunition. A
grocery store for food and water, enough supplies to last
several days. By midafternoon, he was back at the ranch,
transforming it into a killing ground. The barn was his focus,
a large structure one hundred yards from the main house,
filled with farm equipment he rarely used. Mac spent hours
rigging explosives throughout the building, connecting them to a remote detonator.

(46:39):
He positioned ammunition caches in strategic locations around the property,
established fallback positions, created choke points. As dusk approached, he
called the hospital to check on Sable. She was stable,
sedated for the night. The deputy was in place outside
her room. Good Mac showered, dressed in black tactical pants
and a dark shirt, strapped on his eyed arm and

(47:00):
combat knife, loaded his shotgun and placed it by the
front door. Set up his sniper rifle in the upstairs
bedroom window with a clear view of the approach road.
Then he waited. At nine thirty eight pm, the security
system alerted him to vehicles approaching the gate. Mac checked
the camera feed. Three SUVs and two pickup trucks driving
with headlights off. He watched them stop at the gate,

(47:22):
watched men pour out twenty one in total. Heavily armed,
they cut the lock on the gate rather than try
to bypass the electronic system. Smart they didn't want to
trigger any alarms. What they didn't know was that Mac
had already disabled that particular alarm. Wanting them to think
they had the element of surprise. Mac picked up his
radio Deputy Rawlins. After a moment, the deputy guarding Sable responded,

(47:44):
here status, your daughter sleeping peacefully, room secure. Keep it
that way, yes, sir. Max set down the radio and
moved to the sniper rifle. Through the scope, he watched
the blood Crows spread out, approaching the ranch in a
standard flanking formation. Someone had military training, probably that would
make things more challenging. He recognized Bryson among them, the
scarred face unmistakable even in the darkness, the man who

(48:07):
had put his boot in Sable's face. Mac adjusted his aim,
centering the crosshairs on Bryson's head. One shot and he
could begin his revenge right now, but that wasn't the plan.
They needed to come closer, all of them. Mac abandoned
the rifle and moved downstairs. He flicked on the porch
light and opened the front door and stepped outside, hands
empty and visible. I know you're out there, he called

(48:29):
into the darkness. You want me, Come and get me.
He ducked back inside as bullets peppered the door frame.
Grabbing the shotgun, Mac moved through the house to the
back door. Outside. He kept to the shadows, circling toward
the barn. He could hear the men approaching the house,
their attempts at stealth betrayed by tense breathing and the
occasional whispered command. Mac reached the barn and slipped inside

(48:49):
through a side door. He positioned himself behind a tractor,
shotgun ready, night vision goggles, giving him a clear view
of the large main door. Five minutes past ten, then
voices outside the barn. He's not in the house, check
the outbuildings. He's here somewhere. The barn door slid open.
Flashlight beams cut through the darkness. Any one see anything,
spread out, check every corner. Five men entered, then three more,

(49:11):
eight total. Mac waited until they were all well inside,
spread out among the farm equipment and hay bales. Then
he stood looking for me. His voice echoed in the
cavernous space. The men spun toward the sound, raising their weapons.
It's him, one shouted, take him down. Mac ducked behind
the tractor as bullets flew. He had seconds before they
would flank him. He pulled the remote detonator from his

(49:33):
pocket and pressed the button. The world erupted in fire
and thunder. The explosion lifted the barn's roof, sending it
crashing back down in a hail of burning timber. The
walls blew outward, propelling nails and metal debris like shrapnel.
The men inside had no chance. Those not killed instantly
by the blast were crushed by falling debris or impaled
by projectiles. Mack, sheltered behind the tractor, was protected from

(49:56):
the worst of the blast. Still, the concussion left his
ears ringing as he staggered to his feet. The barn
was gone, transformed into a roaring inferno. Around him lay
the broken remains of men who had helped hurt his daughter.
He checked the shotgun, then moved toward the edge of
the destruction. The explosion would have disoriented the remaining blood Crows,
but they'd regroup quickly. He needed to keep moving through

(50:18):
the smoke and flames. Mac saw figures running toward the barn.
Perfect he raised the shotgun and fired. The first man
went down. The second turned to run and caught a
load of buckshot in the back. It's a trap, someone shouted,
fall back. Max circled through the smoke, using it as cover.
He found three more men huddled behind a pickup truck,
arguing about what to do next. We need to get

(50:39):
the hell out of here. One was saying, this guy's insane.
Finn will kill us if we run. Another countered better
Finn than this psycho. Did you see what he did
to Ski? Max stepped around the truck. You should have
listened to your friend. They whirled, but too late. The
shotgun roared three times and three more bodies hit the ground.
Mac reloaded, listening. The ranch had fallen silent except for

(51:00):
the crackling of the burning barn. He moved toward the house,
keeping to the shadows. A figure burst from behind a shed,
firing wildly. Mac dropped to one knee, brought the shotgun
up and fired. The man's chest erupted in a spray
of red mist. Seven Mac counted aloud, plus eight in
the barn. Fifteen six left, including Bryson. But where was Finn?
He hadn't seen the blood Crow's leader among the attackers.

(51:23):
The answer came with the roar of an engine. One
of the SUVs burst from behind the house, accelerating toward
the broken gate. Mac raised the shotgun, but the vehicle
was already too far away. Someone was escaping. Mac. Let
them go, Let them report what had happened here, Let
them spread the message don't mess with the Callaway family.
He did a sweep of the property, finishing off two

(51:44):
wounded men he found hiding in the bushes. That left
four unaccounted for. A noise from the house caught his attention.
Mac approached cautiously, shotgun ready, through the open front door.
He could see signs of movement inside. He slipped around
to the back, entering silently through the kitchen. Voices drifted
from the living room, angry, desperate. We need to burn

(52:04):
this place down with him in it. Someone said, it's
the only way Finn wants him alive. Another voice responded,
Bryson's voice says, the boss lady wants to deal with
him personally. Screw that. You saw what he did out there.
I'm not going back to Finn empty handed. You want
to run, go ahead, I'll tell him you died like
a hero. Max stepped into the doorway. Neither of you

(52:26):
is going back. The two men spun around. Bryson was there,
along with a younger blood crow Mac didn't recognize. Both
raised their weapons. Mac fired first. The younger man's head
snapped back as buckshot tore through his face. Bryson managed
to get off a shot, the bullet grazing Max's left arm,
before the shotgun's second barrel caught him in the stomach.

(52:47):
Bryson crashed into the wall, sliding down to the floor.
Blood poured from a wound in his abdomen, soaking his shirt.
He looked up at Mac, recognition and fear in his eyes. You,
he gasped me. Mac lowered the shotgun, drawing his pistol instead.
Remember my daughter, the seventeen year old girl you put
in the hospital business. Bryson coughed, blood sprang from his lips.

(53:09):
Nothing personal. This isn't personal either. Mac raised the pistol.
This is justice. The shot echoed through the house. Bryson's
body slumped sideways, a neat hole in the center of
his forehead. Max searched the rest of the house, finding
no one else. Eighteen confirmed dead. Three unaccounted for, including
Finn and presumably Inessa. Outside Max surveyed the destruction. The

(53:31):
barn was a smoldering ruin, bodies scattered across the property,
blood soaked into the Montana soil. Phase one complete. Now
for the main event. The old Blackburn Mind sprawled across
thirty acres in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains. Once
a source of copper and silver, it had been abandoned
in the nineteen seventies, the rusting equipment and crumbling outbuildings
left to decay until Calder Finn recognized its potential as

(53:54):
a base of operations. Mac lay belly down on a
ridge overlooking the compound, studying it through binoculars. The main house,
once the mine manager's residence, stood at the center, recently
renovated with new windows and reinforced doors. Around it clustered
smaller buildings, barracks for the men, a warehouse for their product,
a garage for their vehicles. Just as Ski had described,

(54:15):
the attack on Max's ranch had happened two nights ago.
As expected, the survivors had fled back to Finn, bringing
news of the massacre. Mack had followed discreetly, keeping his distance,
using the time to observe and plan. Security had been heightened.
Armed men patrolled the perimeter, moving in pairs. Dogs, large Rottweilers,
and German shepherds accompanied some of the guards. In the

(54:36):
hills surrounding the compound. Snipers kept watch during daylight hours.
Mack had counted twenty two men, not including Finn and
whoever might be inside the main house. Some were clearly veterans,
moving with the discipline precision of trained soldiers. Others were
street thugs there for the money and the violence. All
were on edge after what had happened at the ranch.
Mack checked his watch two seventeen a m. The guard

(54:59):
rotation wh change at two thirty, the fifteen minute window
when attention would be divided. He gathered his equipment, a
suppressed rifle, his side arm, a backpack of additional gear,
and began making his way down the ridge. The moon
was a sliver in the sky, providing minimal light. Perfect
At the base of the ridge, mac encountered the first hurdle,
a chain link fence topped with razor wire. He removed

(55:21):
wirecutters from his pack and made a hole just large
enough to squeeze through. Then covered his tracks as best
he could. The first patrol appeared, two men with a
German shepherd walking the perimeter. Mack froze, controlling his breathing.
The dog would smell him if it got close enough.
He reached into his pocket and removed a small canister
bear mace, effective against dogs and humans alike. When the

(55:41):
patrol was thirty yards away, Mack tossed a rock in
the opposite direction. The sound immediately drew their attention. What
was that, one of the guards said, raising his rifle.
Probably just a deer, His partner replied, check it out anyway.
The first guard moved toward the sound, the dog straining
at its leash. Mac waited until they were directly downwind,
then slipped from cover and approached the remaining guard from behind.

(56:04):
His knife entered the base of the man's skull, severing
the spinal cord. Death was instantaneous and silent. Mac lowered
the body to the ground, then moved to intercept the
first guard. The dog smelled him first, growling low in
its throat. What is it, boy, the guard asked, turning
in Mac's direction. Max sprayed the bear mace directly in
the dog's face. The animal yelped and retreated, pawing at

(56:26):
its eyes. The guard raised his rifle, but Mac was
already on him, driving the knife into his throat. Two down,
many more to go. Mac moved from shadow to shadow,
approaching the compound when possible. He avoided the patrols. When necessary,
he eliminated them silently, a knife to the throat, a
broken neck each body. He hid, buying time before the
alarm was raised. Four guards down, six eight. He reached

(56:50):
the warehouse, picking the lock with practiced ease. Inside, crates
of drugs and weapons lined the walls. Mack planted small
charges at strategic points, not enough to destroy the building immediately,
but enough to start a fire when detonated, a distraction
for later. Next the garage, same treatment, small charges on
the fuel tanks of vehicles. Mac checked his watch again,

(57:10):
three forty two a m. The lack of radio check
ins from the eliminated guards would soon raise suspicions he
needed to move faster. The barracks presented a different challenge,
two large buildings housing most of Finn's men, too many
to take on directly. Mack crept to the electrical panel
on the side of the nearest barracks and cut the power. Immediately,
confused voices rose from inside powers out check the generator.

(57:34):
Two men emerged from the barracks, flashlights in hand. Mack
let them pass, then slipped inside the open door. In
the darkness, the remaining men were fumbling for weapons and lights.
Mac moved among them like a ghost knife flashing. Screams
erupted as men fell. Gunshots rang out, some striking their
own comrades in the confusion. Mac exited through the back door.

(57:54):
As chaos consumed the barracks, the alarm was raised, now
shouting running footsteps. More gunfire triggered the charges in the
warehouse and garage. Multiple explosions lit up the night, followed
by the woosh of igniting fuel. Flames shot into the sky.
As vehicles exploded and the warehouse began to burn, men
poured from the second barracks, running toward the fires. Mac
picked them off with the suppressed rifle one by one

(58:16):
from the shadows, but his main target remained elusive. Finn
would be in the main house, probably with Anessa protected waiting.
Mac circled around to the back of the house. A
single guard stood at the rear door nervously scanning the
compound as it descended into chaos. Mac put a bullet
through his eye, then approached the door. It was locked,
but a focused shot destroyed the mechanism. Mac entered, finding

(58:39):
himself in a kitchen. The house was silent, despite the
chaos outside, sound proofd probably smart, He moved through the
ground floor, methodically checking each room empty. The second floor
then Mac ascended the stairs, slowly listening for movement. At
the top, landing, a man appeared with a shotgun. Mac
fired twice center mass. The man crumpled without a sound.

(59:01):
Four doors lined the upstairs hallway. Mac tried, the first
a bathroom empty, the second a bedroom recently used but unoccupied.
The third door was locked. Mac backed up and kicked
it open, rolling to the side. Immediately, gunfire erupted from within,
bullets splintering the doorframe where he had been standing a
moment before. Mac tossed in a flash bang grenade, turned

(59:21):
away and covered his ears. The explosion was deafening, even
with protection. Mac entered the room, weapon raised. A man
was staggering near the window, disoriented from the flashbang. Not finn,
Mac despatched him with a single shot, then checked the
closet and under the bed. No one one door left.
Mac approached it cautiously, no sound from within. He tried

(59:42):
the handle, unlocked too easy. He pushed the door open
with the barrel of his rifle, staying clear of the doorway.
Nothing happened. Mac risked a glance inside a large bedroom,
luxuriously furnished, and standing in the center, seemingly unafraid, was
Calder Finn callaway. Finn said, as if greeting an ex
inspected guest. I was wondering when you'd get here. Mac

(01:00:03):
entered the room, rifle aimed at Finn's chest. The Blood
Crow's leader was younger than Mackett expected, early forties, fit
with the bearing of a career military man. He wore
no shirt, revealing a torso covered in tattoos and battle scars.
Most notably, Finn held no weapon. Where's Vanessa, Mac demanded, gone.
Finn smiled thinly. She left about an hour ago, said

(01:00:25):
she had unfinished business in town. Max's blood ran cold
the hospital. Maybe Finn shrugged, or maybe she's halfway to
Canada by now. Vanessa tends to look out for herself.
You sent her after my daughter. I don't send Ananessa anywhere.
She does what she wants. Finn gestured to the rifle.
Are you going to use that? Or did you come
here to talk? Mac lowered the rifle slightly. You're awfully

(01:00:48):
calm for a man about to die. We're all about
to die. Callaway. The only question is when and how.
Finn's eyes hardened. But I'm not going out from a
bullet fired by a man hiding behind a gun. In
one swift motion, Max slung the rifle over his shoulder
and drew his combat knife better. Finn smiled a genuine
expression this time much. He reached behind him and produced

(01:01:11):
a wicked looking bowie knife. Shall we dance? They circled
each other slowly, knives extended. Finn was lighter on his feet,
moving with the practiced grace of a trained fighter. Mack
was bigger, stronger, but carrying more years than the fatigue
of the Knight's activities. You know, I almost respect you,
Finn said conversationally. Coming here alone taking out my men
one by one. That takes balls. Save your admiration. Mac growled,

(01:01:34):
you help beat my daughter half to death? Business, Finn replied,
nothing personal. That's what Bryson said before I put a
bullet in his brain. Something flickered in Finn's eyes, anger, perhaps,
or fear. Bryson was loyal more than I can say
for Vanessa. Seems you have poor taste in partners, says
the man she left. Finn lunged suddenly, knife slashing toward

(01:01:56):
Max's throat. Mack parried the blow, countering with a strike
of his own that Finn barely dodged. They separated, reassessing
each other. You're good, Finn acknowledged, military marines, You army rangers.
Finn grinned, this should be interesting. They clashed again, blades
scraping against each other. Finn was faster, scoring a cut

(01:02:16):
along Max's forearm. Mack responded by slamming his elbow into
Finn's ribs. Hearing a satisfying crack, Finn staggered back, Momentarily winded.
Mac pressed the advantage, driving forward with a series of
brutal strikes. Finn parried most, but a thrust connected with
his shoulder, drawing first blood. First round to you, Finn gasped,
touching the wound. But I'm just warming up. The fight intensified,

(01:02:39):
both men fully committed. Now they crashed around the room,
knocking over furniture, smashing lamps. Blood spattered the expensive carpet,
sometimes Fin's, sometimes Max. Despite the injury to his ribs,
Finn was proving a formidable opponent. He fought with the
desperation of a man who knew he was fighting for
his life, landing vicious cuts to Max's chest and arms.
But Mack fought with something more powerful than desperation. He

(01:03:02):
fought with the cold rage of a father who had
seen his child broken. Every blow he landed was for sable,
every cut, every bruise he received only fueled his determination.
Finn tried to create distance, knowing his speed was his advantage.
Mac wouldn't allow it, pressing forward relentlessly, absorbing punishment to
keep the fight close. You can't win, Finn panted, blood
streaming from cuts on his face and chest. Even if

(01:03:24):
you kill me, we both know you'll never find Annessa
before she finds your daughter. Mac didn't respond. Instead, he
caught Finn's wrist as the man attempted another strike, twisting
until the knife clattered to the floor. Finn immediately countered,
driving his fist into Mac's wounded side. Pain exploded through
Max's body, but he didn't release his grip. Instead, he
headbutted Finn, feeling the man's nose shatter under the impact.

(01:03:47):
Finn staggered backward, stunned. Mac followed, delivering a brutal kick
to the same injured ribs. Finn went down hard, gasping
for breath. It's over, Max said, standing over him. Not quite.
Finn wheezed, blood bubbling from his shattered nose. He reached
behind his back. Max saw the glint of metal, a
hidden pistol. He reacted instantly, driving his boot down on

(01:04:08):
Finn's wrist. Bones cracked. Finn screamed, the gun falling from
nerveless fingers. Mac kicked the weapon away, then knelt, pinning
Fin to the floor with a knee on his chest.
We could have been allies, you know, Finn, gasped. With
your skills, my connections, we could have owned this state.
I already have everything I need. Mac raised his knife.
Finn's eyes widened. Wait, I can tell you where to

(01:04:30):
find Vanessa for real? This time, I already know. Mac
brought his fist down hard, crushing Finn's windpipe. The Blood
Crow's leader thrashed beneath him, face purpling as he fought
for air that wouldn't come. Mac watched dispassionately as the
life drained from Finn's eyes. There was no gunshot, no
dramatic final blow, just the quiet struggle of a man

(01:04:51):
drowning in his own blood. When it was over, Max stood,
wiping his knife clean on the bed sheets. Outside. The
compound burned, illuminating the night sky with an orange glow.
Most of Finn's men were dead. The few survivors would
scatter like rats from a sinking ship. Mac retrieved his
rifle and headed downstairs. There was one more stop to

(01:05:11):
make tonight, one more debt to collect. Max stood in
the shadows of the downtown alley where Sable had been beaten.
Blood still stained the concrete. His daughter's blood now turned
brown with age. The sight of it rekindled his rage,
banking it to a white hot core. He had called
the hospital immediately after leaving the burning compound. Sable was safe.
The deputy had reported that no one had attempted to

(01:05:32):
enter her room. Vanessa hadn't gone there, but Mac knew
where she would be, not running to Canada or Mexico.
Not yet. Vanessa was too prideful, too vindictive. She would
want to leave a message, something for Mac to find
after she disappeared, and there was only one place that
made sense, the alley where it had all started. Mac
checked his watch. Five forty seven a m. Dawn was

(01:05:53):
approaching the eastern sky, beginning to lighten. Soon the city
would wake. He needed to finish this quickly. A vehicle approached,
the purr of an expensive engine, the crunch of tires
on the trash strewn street. Headlights swept across the mouth
of the alley, then died. A car door opened closed,
the click of footsteps approached. Mac melted deeper into the shadows,
hand on his pistol. The footsteps paused at the entrance

(01:06:15):
to the alley, hesitant, then moved forward again, more determined.
Vanessa appeared a silhouette against the faint pre dawn light.
She wore an expensive coat, her platinum hair gleaming even
in the dimness. In her hand was a small object,
a phone, its screen casting a blue glow on her
face as she checked it. Mac watched her walk to
the exact spot where Sable had fallen. Vanessa looked down

(01:06:36):
at the blood stain, then around at the alley walls.
She was looking for something or preparing to leave something.
Mac stepped forward, deliberately, scuffing his boot against the ground.
Vanessa whirled her hand, diving into her purse. Who's there, hello, Nanessa?
Mac moved into the faint light, gun at his side
but visible. She froze, eyes widening, Then remarkably, she smiled, Mac,

(01:06:58):
you're alive. Disappointed, surprised, she eased her hand out of
her purse, empty. Good choice. I thought you'd be at
the compound with Finn. Finn's dead. A flicker of something, fear,
perhaps her calculation, crossed her face, all of them, everyone
who stayed to fight. Vanessa nodded slowly, and now you're
here for me. Yes, you know me so well. She

(01:07:18):
took a step back. But you're forgetting something important, Mac,
what's that? I'm still legally Sable's mother. Nanessa's smile returned,
cold and confident. Kill me and you'll spend the rest
of your life in prison. What happens to her? Then?
Mac almost laughed, You think I care about prison, about laws?
After what you did to her. It wasn't personal, Mac,
It was about the money. It's always been about the money.

(01:07:41):
Beating a seventeen year old girl wasn't personal. Max's voice hardened.
Leaving her for dead in this alley wasn't personal. She
wasn't supposed to be hurt that badly, Vanessa said, taking
another step back. Bryson got carried away. I just wanted
to send you a message message received. Mac raised the gun.
I've got one for you too, as composure cracked. Wait, Mac, please,

(01:08:02):
we can work something out. I'll drop any claim to
the money. I'll disappear. You'll never see me again. Too
late for that. Think about Sable. She already lost one parent.
Do you want her to lose another? She lost you
years ago, Mack replied, when you walked out on us
for a convicted felon, I made a mistake. Tears appeared
in Vanessa's eyes, practiced, calculated tears that Mac had seen
many times before. I never stopped loving her or you.

(01:08:25):
Mac stepped closer. You're pathetic, you know that, Still trying
to manipulate your way out of consequences, Mac, please, Vanessa
was openly crying, now backing away until she hit the
alley wall. I'm begging you like Sable begged. Did you
listen when she pleaded for you to stop? I'm sorry,
I'm so sorry. Mac grabbed her by the throat, pushing

(01:08:46):
her against the wall. No you're not, You're sorry, you lost. Sorry,
your plan failed. Sorry, you're about to die. Vanessa's hand
shot out, something metallic, flashing in the growing light, A
small pistol pulled from her coat pocket. Mac caught her wrist,
smashing it against the brick wall until the gun clattered
to the ground. Always a backup plan, right, Essa, she
spat in his face. Go to hell you first. Mac

(01:09:09):
dragged her to the center of the alley, forcing her
to her knees on the bloodstain, right where she'd left
their daughter to die. Vanessa looked up at him, hatred
replacing the false tears. Do it then, prove what a
big man you are. Mac pressed the barrel of his
gun against her forehead. This isn't about being a man,
It's about justice, justice, Vanessa laughed bitterly. You call this justice.

(01:09:31):
This is revenge, pure and simple, No second chances, Max
said quietly, that's what you told Sable right before Bryson
kicked her in the face. Nanessa's eyes widened. Mack the
gunshot echoed through the alley, cutting off her final plea
Nanessa's body crumpled, falling sideways onto the concrete. Blood pooled
around her head, mingling with the older stain of Sable's blood.

(01:09:52):
Max stood over her for a long moment, feeling nothing,
No satisfaction, no relief, no regret, just an emptiness where
the rage had been. He tucked the gun away and
walked out of the alley without looking back. In the east,
the sun was rising, painting the sky in shades of red.
A new day was beginning. Three weeks later, Mack stood
on the porch of a cabin nestled in the mountains

(01:10:13):
north of Bozeman. The property was remote, twenty acres surrounded
by national forest land, accessible only by a single dirt road,
perfect for a fresh start. Behind him, the door opened.
Sable stepped out, moving carefully but without the pain that
had marked her first days out of the hospital. The
bruises on her face had faded to yellow shadows, and
the walking cast on her leg would come off in

(01:10:34):
another week. She carried two mugs of coffee, offering one
to Mac. Thanks, he said, accepting it, turning back to
the view, mountains rising into clouds, a valley spread out
below them. It's beautiful here, Sable said, coming to stand
beside him peaceful. Mac nodded. They both needed peace after
everything that had happened. The official story was that the

(01:10:55):
Blood Crows had become embroiled in a gang war that
had spilled into Billings. Max's ranch had been caught in
the crossfire, destroyed in an attack. He'd narrowly escaped. No
one questioned why the gang had targeted him specifically. No
one connected him to the deaths of Vanessa, Finn, or
any of the others. There were no witnesses, no evidence
pointing his way. Sheriff Griggs had been found dead in

(01:11:16):
his office three days after the destruction of Finn's compound
and apparent suicide. His note confessed to corruption, to taking
money from the Blood Crows. He'd shot himself in the
head with his service weapon, or so, the official report stated.
The few surviving Blood Crows had scattered, fleeing Montana entirely.
The organization was finished, its leadership decimated its operations in ruins.

(01:11:39):
As for Mac and Sable, they'd used a portion of
Augustus's money to start over new Identities, New Location, New Life.
The rest had been donated anonymously to various charities supporting
victims of violent crime. What are you thinking about, Sable asked,
sipping her coffee the future. Mack glanced at her. Your
college applications went out yesterday, NYU, she said, a small smile,

(01:12:01):
lifting the corner of her mouth. Do you think I'll
get in? I know you will. They fell silent again,
watching an eagle soar above the valley. Do you ever
think about them, Sable finally asked, mom, the others? Mac
considered the question carefully. No, never, They made their choices,
they paid for them. He turned to face her fully,
what about you? Sable touched the scar that ran from

(01:12:23):
her temple to her jaw, a permanent reminder of what
had been done to her. Sometimes, not because I miss
her or anything, just trying to understand. Some things can't
be understood, Mac said gently. Some people are just broken inside,
like Grandpa. Mac nodded, like Augustus. Are we broken now too?
Her voice was small, uncertain. No. Mac put his arm

(01:12:43):
around her shoulders, damaged, maybe scarred, but not broken. Sable
leaned against him, and for a while they simply stood together,
watching the sun climb higher in the sky. No words
were needed. They had survived. They had each other. That
was enough. Eventually Sable straightened up, going to start breakfast.
Pancakes okay, perfect. She squeezed his hand once, then went

(01:13:05):
back inside, leaving Mac alone with his thoughts. He didn't
regret what he had done, not a single death, not
a drop of blood spilled. In the world he had
known as a marine, there were rules of engagement, lines
that couldn't be crossed, But when those lines had been
crossed against his family, the old rules no longer applied.
He had gone to war just as he'd been trained
to do, and like every war, it had exacted its price,

(01:13:28):
not in guilt or nightmares, but in the knowledge that
he was capable of such calculated violence, that such darkness
existed within him, ready to be called upon if needed.
But as he watched the sun illuminate the valley before him,
Mac knew that darkness would remain dormant. Now the debts
had been paid, the account settled, there was nothing left
but to live the life that had been salvage from

(01:13:49):
the wreckage. Mac finished his coffee and went inside to
join his daughter, closing the door gently behind him. In
the distance, an eagle cried out a sound of freedom,
of wildness of life continuing despite everything, just as they
would