Chapter 7 - THE BANK VAULT
The rain started as we pulled into downtown.
The streets glistened under gray skies.
The First National Bank was quiet, almost dead.
Dante parked the black SUV illegally near the side entrance.
Two of his most trusted men flanked us.
"Stay close," Dante muttered, pulling his coat collar up.
We slipped through the service door.
The security guard was tied up in the breakroom.
Dante had arranged it quietly.
We descended into the concrete bowels of the bank.
The air down here was cold and smelled of ozone.
Rows of steel safe deposit boxes lined the walls.
"Box 412," Dante said, checking a slip of paper.
I walked down the narrow aisle.
My fingers gripped the silver key Salvatore had given me.
I stopped in front of box 412.
I slid the key into the lock.
It turned with a satisfying, heavy click.
I pulled the metal drawer open.
Inside lay a thick leather-bound ledger.
And a stack of old photographs.
I reached in and pulled the ledger out.
As I opened it, a folded paper fell to the floor.
I picked it up and unfolded it.
My breath hitched.
It was a birth certificate.
My birth certificate.
Signed by Salvatore Gallo.
Dante stepped behind me and looked over my shoulder.
His breath caught.
"What is this?" Dante whispered.
"I don't know," I choked out.
The door at the end of the aisle burst open.
Footsteps echoed loudly on the concrete floor.
"Gallo!" a rough voice shouted.
"We've been made!" one of Dante's guards yelled, raising his weapon.
Gunshots echoed through the vault.
Sparks flew off the steel walls.
May you like
"Run!" Dante grabbed my arm.
The war for the underworld had just cornered us.
