Chapter 9 - THE DOCKS AT MIDNIGHT
Rain fell across the Marchetti docks.
Damiano arrived in a single black car.
He carried Isabella’s ledgers inside a metal case.
No visible guards followed.
Silvio’s men searched him at the gate.
They removed two guns, a knife, and a tracking device hidden beneath his cuff.
Silvio watched from the warehouse entrance.
“You disappoint me.”
“I wanted you to feel competent.”
Damiano walked inside.
Mia sat beside Isabella.
Their chains were visible.
Silvio stood between them.
“Place the case on the table.”
Damiano obeyed.
“Open it.”
The ledgers rested inside.
The black drive lay on top.
Silvio picked it up.
“You made copies.”
“Yes.”
Silvio smiled.
“Then killing them changes nothing.”
“No.”
Damiano looked toward Isabella.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Three years disappeared between them.
Neither spoke.
There would be time for words if they survived.
Silvio lifted a gun toward Mia.
“Tell me where the copies are.”
Damiano remained still.
“You will not shoot her.”
“You sound certain.”
“You need Isabella’s signature.”
“If Mia dies, Isabella inherits nothing from the trust.”
“She becomes easier to control.”
Isabella pulled against her chains.
Silvio pressed the gun closer.
Damiano looked at Mia.
She did not cry.
A red ribbon was wrapped around one finger.
The signal.
Nico had agreed.
Damiano lowered his voice.
“Mia.”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember our contract?”
“Yes.”
“What was my responsibility?”
“To be my daddy.”
“And yours?”
Mia looked toward Nico.
“To tell the truth.”
She smiled.
“Silvio has twelve men.”
“Two are outside.”
“Three are in the office.”
“One has the keys.”
Silvio turned toward the guards.
That moment was enough.
Nico fired into the ceiling.
The warehouse lights went dark.
Glass shattered along the east wall.
Rafael entered with Verrone men.
Carlo Moretti’s soldiers attacked from the river doors.
Gunfire exploded across the warehouse.
Damiano overturned the table and reached Mia.
He covered her with his body.
Isabella kicked the gun from Silvio’s hand.
Silvio grabbed her hair.
Damiano struck him across the jaw.
The two men crashed against the metal barrier.
Rafael reached Isabella’s chains.
“I am sorry,” he said.
“Save the apology,” she answered.
“Use the key.”
Nico released Mia.
He carried her toward the loading office.
A bullet struck his shoulder.
He fell.
Mia crawled behind a crate.
Silvio broke away from Damiano and ran toward the river platform.
He carried the black drive.
Damiano followed.
Rain struck them beyond the warehouse.
Silvio reached a waiting boat.
Emilio Russo stood aboard it.
The don who refused to choose a side had chosen Silvio.
Emilio aimed a pistol at Damiano.
“You brought war to all of us.”
“No.”
Damiano moved closer.
“Silvio sold all of you.”
Emilio glanced toward the drive.
Silvio shouted.
“Shoot him.”
Emilio’s gun shifted.
Then Isabella stepped from the warehouse.
“I have copies of every payment Silvio made to your son.”
Emilio froze.
Silvio looked at him.
“She lies.”
“Your son financed the weapons route through Milan,” Isabella continued.
“If federal investigators receive the file, your family ends.”
Emilio’s face changed.
Silvio raised his gun toward Isabella.
Damiano fired first.
The bullet struck Silvio’s wrist.
The drive fell onto the dock.
Emilio kicked it into the river.
Silvio screamed.
“That was everything.”
“No,” Mia’s voice called from the warehouse entrance.
May you like
She held the torn red heart.
“You said paper doesn’t matter.”
