Chapter 8 - The Final Reckoning at the Docks
The fallout from Victor’s betrayal triggered a massive purge within the syndicate. The Chicago faction attempted a retaliatory strike against the Moretti shipping terminals down at the Brooklyn waterfront, believing the internal chaos had left Alejandro vulnerable.
They miscalculated.
Alejandro didn't send his capos to handle it. He led the assault personally.
I sat in the armored command vehicle parked two blocks away from the docks, staring at the glowing tactical monitors alongside Marcus while the distant sound of automatic gunfire echoed across the freezing night air.
"Is he going to be safe?" I asked, my hands tightly clutching the silver locket Alejandro had given me years ago.
Marcus glanced down at me, a rare, reassuring smile crossing his scarred face. "Kiddo, nobody touches the boss. Not tonight, not ever. Especially not after what happened to you."
Through the infrared cameras on the monitor, I watched Alejandro move through the shipping containers like a phantom. Clad in tactical gear, his movements were precise, cold, and utterly devastating. In less than forty minutes, the entire Chicago strike force was dismantled, their leadership captured or neutralized, and the docks secured under absolute Moretti control.
When Alejandro finally walked back to the command vehicle, opening the heavy reinforced door, he looked exhausted. His tactical vest was scorched, and a thin line of blood ran down his temple from a flying piece of shrapnel.
Without hesitation, I unzipped my jacket, pulled out a clean handkerchief, and reached up to wipe the blood from his forehead.
Alejandro froze. He looked down at me, the harsh, ruthless mafia boss melting away into the man who had raised me, protected me, and anchored my entire world.
He gently caught my hand, taking the handkerchief from my fingers.
"You should be in bed, Emma," he murmured, though his eyes were filled with profound warmth.
"I couldn't sleep," I said softly. "I had to make sure you came back."
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Alejandro let out a deep, rumbling sigh, pulling me into a protective embrace that shut out the cold wind blowing off the East River.
"I always come back to you," he whispered against my hair. "Always."
