Chapter 14 - RECKONING AT THE DOCKS
The armored SUV smashed through the rusted chain-link fence of the abandoned shipping yard.
Headlights cut through the thick fog rolling in off Lake Michigan.
We skidded to a halt near Pier 4.
Towering rusty cranes loomed like skeletal giants against the night sky.
In the center of the open concrete platform stood Isabella Romano and Uncle Salvatore.
Between them sat Nonna Antonella, tied to a wooden chair, her hands bound behind her back.
A gun was pressed firmly against her temple by one of Salvatore's enforcers.
We stepped out of the SUV.
The freezing wind whipped my hair across my face.
“Claire!” Isabella called out, her voice dripping with malicious triumph.
She stepped forward, holding the original deed in her hand.
“You took your sweet time!”
I walked forward slowly, my hands resting steadily at my sides.
Marco flanked me, his weapon concealed but ready.
“Let her go, Isabella,” I demanded.
“This is between us.”
Salvatore laughed, a harsh, gravelly sound.
“There is no us, little girl. You're standing on my property.”
“According to the deed in your hand,” I replied smoothly, “you're standing on federal evidence.”
Isabella frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
I pulled the USB drive from my pocket and held it up.
“Agent Vance has a copy of your federal informant file, Isabella. The moment you pull that trigger, your immunity deal is voided.”
Isabella's face drained of color.
“You're lying.”
“Am I?” I asked, taking another step forward.
“Ask Salvatore why he wired four million dollars to your offshore account yesterday afternoon.”
Salvatore whipped his head toward Isabella.
“What did you say?”
Isabella panicked.
“He's lying! Don't listen to him!”
Chaos erupted in their ranks as suspicion took hold.
Salvatore glared at Isabella.
“You double-crossed us?”
“She used all of you,” I said loudly.
“Gabriel, Salvatore, the syndicate—she wanted the entire estate for herself.”
Salvatore raised his weapon toward Isabella.
Isabella screamed, shoving Nonna Antonella toward the edge of the freezing pier.
“If I don't get the house, nobody does!” Isabella shrieked.
May you like
Without hesitation, I sprinted forward.
[CLIFFHANGER: As Isabella pulls the trigger, Marco intercepts the bullet with his own body, leaving Claire face-to-face with Isabella on the edge of the freezing pier.]
