Chapter 10 - Bloodline of Vipers
Tracers tore through the early morning fog.
Crates of ammunition exploded into red fireballs, sending shrapnel whistling
across the concrete yard.
Lorenzo led the assault like an ancient warlord.
He didn't duck.
He didn't retreat.
Every shot from his rifle dropped an enemy enforcer.
Vito tried to scramble into the cab of a cargo truck.
Matteo cut him down with a clean burst to the radiator and chest.
Delacroix retreated toward the river barge, firing wild bursts behind him.
"Castellano won't let you hold the port, Moretti!" Delacroix screamed.
"The whole syndicate council backed this play!"
"The council was lied to," Lorenzo shouted over the roar of battle.
"And you believed a snake."
I followed behind the defensive line, keeping Baron close.
Suddenly, from behind a stack of rusted oil drums, a figure lunged.
It was Paulie—the third traitorous capo.
His face was wild with panic.
He held a rusted pipe wrench, aiming directly for Lorenzo’s exposed back.
"LORENZO!" I screamed.
There was no time to aim.
I dropped my shoulder and tackled Paulie into the mud.
The heavy wrench clattered away.
Paulie roared, wrapping his thick hands around my throat.
His thumbs dug into my windpipe.
Air vanished from my lungs.
Spots danced in my vision.
Growl.
Baron hit Paulie like a four-legged missile.
The Doberman’s teeth sank into Paulie’s shoulder with bone-snapping force.
Paulie screamed, thrashing, releasing my neck.
I rolled away, coughing, drawing my revolver.
I aimed at the ground beside his ear and fired.
"Don't move," I rasped, my throat burning.
Lorenzo appeared above us.
He looked at the bleeding capo, then at me.
He extended a hand and pulled me up effortlessly.
"You keep saving my life, Evelyn."
"Make sure you keep mine," I replied, catching my breath.
Across the pier, Delacroix was cornered against the barge railing.
His weapon was empty.
His cigar was floating in the river.
May you like
Lorenzo walked toward him, stepping over spent shell casings.
"End of the line, Salvatore."
