Chapter 5 - Fire on the WaterThe rain fell in freezing torrents over Pier 19 at the city port.
Inside an abandoned shipping warehouse, halogen work lights hummed overhead, casting harsh yellow glare over rusted shipping containers and pools of oily water.
Sal Moretti—a heavyset, crude man in an expensive leather coat—stood in the center of the warehouse, surrounded by ten of his toughest enforcers.
“Where is he?!” Sal roared, spitting on the concrete floor. “Gallo thinks he can just walk into my district and steal my people? I’ll bleed him dry!”
The heavy steel doors of the warehouse were suddenly blown inward with a deafening metallic boom.
Four black SUVs tore into the warehouse, their high-beam headlights blinding Sal’s men as they scrambled for cover, drawing handguns from their coats.
The vehicles stopped in a perfect tactical line. The doors opened, and twenty armored Gallo enforcers stepped out, their weapons drawn and locked on Sal’s crew.
From the lead SUV, Roman Gallo stepped out into the harsh light.
He wore a long black coat, moving with absolute, unhurried dominance across the wet concrete. He didn't draw a weapon. He didn't need to. The sheer aura of power surrounding him commanded total silence.
Sal swallowed hard, his bravado instantly wavering as Roman stopped ten feet away from him.
“You wanted a meeting, Sal,” Roman said, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet warehouse. “Speak.”
“Gallo...” Sal stammered, trying to regain his posture. “The girl... Sadie Torres. She lives in my territory. She owes money to my lenders. You took her without permission!”
Roman reached into his coat pocket. Sal’s men tensed, their fingers tightening on their triggers.
Roman pulled out a thick ledger, tossing it at Sal’s feet.
“That is the full audit of your illegal extortion operations across the South End,” Roman said coldly. “Every shop you burned, every mother you threatened, every dollar you stole from working families.”
Sal’s face turned white as snow. “Where... where did you get this?”
“I own the bank you use to launder your funds, Sal,” Roman revealed, a cold, deadly smile touching his lips. “As of ten minutes ago, your accounts have been frozen. Your properties have been seized. You are broke, Sal. And you are finished in this city.”
Sal panicked. In a desperate, blind rage, he reached for his waistband. “You bastard—”
CRACK!
Before Sal’s hand could clear his holster, Marco stepped forward and fired a single non-lethal round into Sal’s shoulder. The rival boss collapsed onto his knees, crying out in pain as his weapon clattered across the floor.
Sal’s enforcers dropped their guns instantly, raising their hands in surrender.
May you like
Roman walked up to the kneeling, bleeding man, leaning down until their faces were inches apart.
“If I see you or any of your men within five miles of Sadie Torres or her son ever again,” Roman whispered, his dark eyes promises of pure destruction, “I won't seize your money, Sal. I’ll seize your life. Now get out of my city.”
