Chapter 4 - The Broken Seal of SilenceThe descent into the lower levels of the casino complex felt like passing through the gates of an underworld fortress. Heavy fire doors clanged shut behind Dante’s elite enforcers as they escorted Vincent and Victoria Rossi down the concrete stairwells toward the subterranean service tunnels. Teresa walked alongside Marcus, her boots echoing against the damp pavement. The air grew cooler, smelling of salt water, diesel exhaust, and wet stone.
Inside the private port director's office, a glass-walled enclosure overlooking the underground slips, a terrified man sat behind a mahogany desk. Port Director Charles Vance stood up so quickly his rolling chair slammed into the wall. His face was bloodless.
“Mr. Moretti,” Vance stammered, smoothing down his spotless white captain’s uniform. “I wasn't expecting... we have no scheduled commercial dockings until dawn—”
Dante walked into the office, his tall frame blocking the doorway. He did not pull a weapon or raise his voice. Instead, he reached out, grabbed the heavy wooden chair beside the desk, and pulled it backward.
He looked directly at Teresa, gesturing to the seat with a courtly, unyielding grace.
“Pull a chair for my wife before I revoke your harbor charter, Charles,” Dante said softly.
The entire room froze. Teresa caught her breath, her cheeks flushing bright red under the startled gazes of the security detail and the trembling port director. She slowly took the seat, her hands resting on the armrests as Dante stood protectively behind her chair.
Charles Vance’s knees buckled. He dropped back into his leather seat, staring in utter disbelief between Teresa and the syndicate boss.
“Mr. Moretti... I didn't know—Vincent told me—”
“Vincent told you to falsify every maritime manifest leaving Slip Four for the past three years,” Dante finished smoothly, leaning his hands onto the glass desk. “He told you that my syndicate would cover any discrepancies if the federal maritime commission came sniffing around. But today, Charles, your signature is on the clearance papers for a ship that is currently hiding the truth about my sister Rosa.”
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Vincent Rossi lunged forward, his face purple with rage. “Don't listen to him, Charles! He's bluffing! The federal prosecutor’s office has my immunity agreement on file—”
“Your immunity agreement was shredded five minutes ago when my bankers liquidated your offshore accounts in the Caymans,” Dante interrupted without even turning his head to look at the former judge. He leaned closer to the port director. “Now, Charles. Open the master terminal. Show me the cargo manifest for the midnight freighter, or I will let Marcus here dismantle your drydock piece by piece with a cutting torch while you watch.”
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