Chapter 7 - The Trap at the Docks
The convoy didn't return to Bedford.however,Dominic diverted them toward an industrial shipping warehouse along the Brooklyn waterfront—the neutral ground where he had agreed to meet Salvatore Moretti to settle the dispute once and for all.
The warehouse was cavernous.smelling of saltwater,diesel fuel,and rusted iron.Giant shipping containers stacked three stories high create a maze of dark corridors inside the building.
"Stay in the vehicle,"Dominic suffers his security details,his voice dropping into commander mode.He turned to Hannah in the back seat."Lock the doors."If I'm not back in thirty minutes,take the convoy and get out of the city."
"Not a chance,Hannah said,opening her door before he could stop her.
"Hannah,damn it—
"Mr.Vale,you have four children sitting in these cars,and an enemy syndicate waiting inside that warehouse.You need someone watching your six who isn't wearing a wire.She looked back at Sophie,who was playing a game of Tic-Tac-Toe with Theo on a notepad."Keep the kids safe," she told the head guard,before turning and following Dominic towards the heavy metal sliding doors.
Dominic didn't argue further.He drew his weapon,motioning for her to stay close behind his shoulders as they stepped into the dim interior of the warehouse.
In the center of the open staging area,surrounded by stacked containers,standing Salvatore Moretti—a heavyset man with slicked-back gray hair and an expensive silk suit,flanked by half a dozen armed thugs.
"Dominic,Moretti sneezed,integrating his arms wide."I was wondering if the king of New York would actually show up himself,or if you were too busy hiding behind your guards."
"Cut the dramatics,Salvatore,Dominic said,his voice echoing off the corrugated metal walls."Arthur Vance is dead."Your little inside job failed.It's over."
Moretti's smile faded.He signaled to his men,and instantly,red laser sights flickered across the walls,pointing straight at Dominic's chest.
"You think Arthur was my only play?Moretti laughed darkly."You've been distracted for six months,Vale.Your empire is rotting from the inside,and today,you and your little operation die right here."
Before Moretti could finish his sentence,a sudden sound echoed from the upper catwalks of the warehouse.
Hey!Ugly suit!"
Everyone is lying flat.Moretti and his men looked up.
Standing on the metal catwalk twenty feet above,holding a heavy fire extinguisher,was Lucas Vale,flanked by Mason and Theo—and right behind them,Sophie,holding a bag of marbles she had found in the car.
"What are you boys doing?!"Dominic shouted,His blood is running cold.
"You forgot your backup,Dad!" Lucas yelled down defiantly.
Before Moretti's men could raise their weapons toward the catwalk,Hannah moved with blistering speed.She lunged forward,sweeping the legs out from under the closest thug,grabbing his pistol,and fired a warning shot directly into the metal ceiling above Moretti's head.Sparks rained down like fireworks.
"Drop your weapons or the next one goes between your eyes!Hannah yelled,holding the stolen pistol with a steady,combat-trained grip that left Dominic completely speechless.
Where...where did you learn to handle a gun like that?" Dominic stared at her in utter shock.
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"My late husband was an NYPD tactical firearms instructor,Hannah whispered,never taking her eyes off Moretti's men."He taught me a few things before he passed."
With their tactical advantage shattered and Dominic's security detail swarming through the side doors of the warehouse,Moretti's men dropped their weapons one by one,raising their hands in surrender.
