Chapter 8 - The Siege of Brooklyn
By 3:30 AM, three black armored SUVs were speeding across the Manhattan Bridge toward the waterfront district of Brooklyn, tearing through the quiet, snow-covered streets like predators in the night.
Inside the lead vehicle, Luca sat beside me, dressed in a fresh dark tactical sweater, checking the magazine of a heavy assault rifle. Surrounding us were ten of his most loyal, elite security officers, their faces grim, their weapons ready.
"Julian has barricaded himself in the Bellandi family mansion on the water," Luca explained, pointing to a digital tablet map on his knee. "Old man Bellandi brought thirty of his private enforcers to guard the perimeter. They think they have the element of surprise. They think I'm dead or trapped in Westchester."
"What is our play?" I asked, studying the blueprints of the Bellandi compound.
"We don't negotiate," Luca said coldly. "We breach the main gate, eliminate the guards who draw weapons, and secure the legal transfer documents before Julian can submit them to the state registry at eight o'clock."
"Wait," I said, pointing to a small utility entrance on the western dock side of the property. "If you breach the front gate, Julian will take the fast launch boat parked at the private marina and escape across the bay to New Jersey. He's done it before during the 2018 port raid."
Luca paused, looking down at the tablet map, then up at me, his eyes widening slightly. "How do you know about the 2018 port raid?"
"I filed the insurance claim reports, Luca," I smiled faintly. "I read every detail of the escape route."
Luca let out a soft, low chuckle, leaning over to kiss my forehead. "You are terrifying, Emma Vance."
He turned to his lead tactical officer. "Change of plan. Split the team. Alpha team breaches the front gate as a distraction. Bravo team comes with me and Emma through the western docks. We cut off the marina."
Ten minutes later, the night exploded into chaos.
Explosives detonated at the front gates of the Bellandi estate, sending smoke and fire billowing into the cold winter air. Alarms blared across the compound as dozens of Bellandi guards rushed toward the front entrance to repel the assault.
Meanwhile, our boat slipped silently into the dark, icy waters near the western docks.
Luca, two guards, and I scaled the low stone wall, slipping through the shadows of the snow-covered garden toward the private boathouse.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the marina office, we saw Julian Moretti frantically stuffing stacks of bearer bonds and legal files into a leather duffel bag while Sophia Bellandi and her father stood nearby, arguing violently.
"We have to leave now, Julian!" Sophia screamed, her voice carrying through the cold glass. "Luca's men are tearing through the front courtyard!"
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"Shut up, girl!" Julian barked, zipping the bag closed. "As long as I have these signed corporate board releases, the council will recognize me as Chairman by morning!"
"They won't recognize a dead man, Uncle," Luca's voice boomed as he kicked the boathouse door completely off its hinges.
