Chapter 5 - AMBUSH AT THE DOCKS
The air in the ballroom snapped like a live wire.
Domenico’s eyes darted frantically toward the high balcony above the ballroom floor, where three of his armed hitmen were stationed, waiting for a signal that was now compromised.
"You're confused, Lorenzo," Domenico sneered, trying to maintain his composure. "Apex Maritime is a clean logistics firm."
"It was clean," Maya spoke up, her voice clear, confident, and echoing with absolute authority. "Until you diverted $14 million in offshore wire transfers to purchase illegal military hardware through a port authority shell account in Hamburg, Domenico."
Gasps erupted from the surrounding mob lieutenants and bosses.
Before Domenico could reach for the concealed weapon inside his jacket, Lorenzo moved with blinding speed. He pulled a suppressed pistol from his holster and fired two quick shots into the ceiling chandeliers, shattering them into rain of glass.
Pandemonium broke out. Guests screamed and scrambled for the exits.
"Get her out of here!" Lorenzo roared to his head of security, Marcus, pushing Maya behind his massive frame as bullets began to tear through the plaster walls from the balcony above.
"Lorenzo, no!" Maya cried out, her hands reaching for him.
"Go, Maya!" Lorenzo commanded, his ice-blue eyes fierce. "Marcus will take you to the safehouse!"
Marcus grabbed Maya's arm, pulling her through a service exit into the dark, rainy alleyway behind the hotel. Rain instantly soaked her beautiful red dress, but she didn't care. Terror for Lorenzo consumed her entirely.
Suddenly, a heavy black van squealed around the corner of the alley, blocking their path.
The side door slid open, and four men in ski masks spilled out, armed with automatic submachine guns.
Marcus drew his weapon, firing twice and taking down the lead attacker, but he was quickly overwhelmed by two others, taking a heavy blow to the temple with a gun butt that sent him sprawling unconscious onto the wet pavement.
Maya backed up against the cold brick wall of the alleyway, her breathing ragged, the rain washing the makeup from her face. She was trapped.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out of the van, pulling off his mask.
It was Greg Peterson.
"I told you not to dig into those ledgers, Maya!" Greg spat, his face twisted with frantic desperation as he pointed a gun at her chest. "You just had to be the hero! Now Domenico's men are going to wipe out the Valentes, and you're coming with me to make sure those digital keys get wiped forever!"
"You betrayed your own country for money, Greg," Maya spat, standing tall against the brick wall despite the weapon pointed at her heart. "You're a pathetic coward."
"Shut up!" Greg shrieked, stepping closer. "Get in the van!"
"She's not going anywhere with you, Peterson."
A low, resonant baritone echoed down the alleyway.
Greg whirled around in terror.
May you like
Standing at the mouth of the alley, soaked in rain, his tuxedo jacket gone and his white shirt stained with blood that wasn't his own, stood Lorenzo Valente.
In his hand, he held a heavy tactical firearm, his ice-blue eyes glowing with a murderous, unholy fire.
