Chapter 7 - The Trap Springs
Mave pushed through the steel back door into the cool November night air. Dante was waiting in the shadows beneath the industrial overhang, Caesar standing silently beside him like a dark, watchful statue.
"Got it," Mave whispered, pulling the electronic fob from her apron and handing it over.
Dante caught the fob, his eyes flashing with grim satisfaction. "Perfect. Pier 44 is completely open to us now."
Before Mave could respond, the heavy steel door behind them slammed open.
"Well, well, well," a harsh voice grated from the doorway.
Mave whirled around. Henderson stood in the threshold, a heavy-caliber automatic pistol held firmly in his right hand, pointed straight at Dante's chest. Behind him, two other thugs spilled out from the kitchen, blocking the alley exit.
"Dante," Henderson sneered, a sadistic grin spreading across his scarred face. "Viktor sends his regards. Looks like you didn't learn your lesson the first time."
Dante didn't flinch. He didn't raise his hands. He simply stood tall, his pale gray eyes locking onto Henderson with a terrifying, absolute calm. "You should have checked your coat before you sat down, Henderson."
Henderson frowned, his hand dipping instinctively toward his pocket. His expression morphed from smug satisfaction to cold panic as his fingers found empty air.
"You son of a—" Henderson raised the pistol to fire.
He never got the chance.
With a roar that shook the damp brick walls, Caesar launched himself from the shadows. The massive Cane Corso hit Henderson like a freight train, knocking the heavily armed lieutenant flat onto his back against the concrete with a sickening crunch. The pistol flew from Henderson's grip, skittering across the wet asphalt into a dark puddle.
The two other thugs charged forward, drawing their own weapons, but Dante moved with sudden, explosive speed. Despite his healing wound, he closed the distance in a blur, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to the lead thug's jaw, sending him crashing into the metal dumpster.
The second thug hesitated for a split second—and that was all the opening Mave needed. Acting on pure adrenaline, she grabbed a heavy metal trash can lid from the ground and hurled it like a Frisbee, catching the man squarely across the temple. He folded instantly, collapsing into the greasy alley water.
Silence descended upon the alley, broken only by the heavy panting of the dog and the steady patter of the rain.
May you like
Henderson groaned beneath Caesar's immense weight, the dog's deep growl vibrating directly over his chest.
Dante stepped forward, looking down at his former associate with cold indifference. "Tell Viktor the debt is collected."
