Chapter 6 - Betrayal at the Plaza Hotel
The grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was a vision of opulence and suppressed violence. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over round tables where the heads of New York's most powerful crime syndicates sat surrounded by their top advisors.
Julian Reeves sat at the head table, calm and relaxed, sipping sparkling water while Victor Vance—a hulking, grey-bearded man with cold, sociopathic eyes—glared at him from across the linen tablecloth.
"You destroyed thirty million dollars of my cargo in Newark, Reeves," Vance growled, leaning forward. "The council needs to hold you accountable."
"You used my transit corridors without paying tribute, Vance," Julian replied smoothly, his voice commanding the respect of every Don in the room. "And you used rat-level extortionists to move illicit hardware through my city. I simply cleaned up the trash."
Meanwhile, outside the hotel in a disguised utility van, Sophia sat beside Thomas, monitoring three screens displaying digital floor plans and security feeds of the Plaza’s penthouse suite.
"Julian’s hacker has breached the electronic lock on Vance’s suite," Thomas informed her, typing rapidly on his console. "Our field agent is inside now, downloading the server data onto a jump drive."
"Wait," Sophia interrupted, pointing at a monitor tracking the hotel's rear service elevator. "Thomas, look at that feed. Who are those men?"
Thomas leaned in, his face darkening. Four men wearing heavy tactical gear and carrying concealed submachine guns were ascending the service elevator toward the penthouse floor—and another squad was moving toward the main ballroom basement.
"It’s a hit squad," Thomas gasped, grabbing his radio. "Vance didn't come to negotiate! He’s breaking the truce! He’s going to execute the entire council and take control of the city by force!"
"Julian!" Sophia screamed, grabbing the comms mic. "Julian, can you hear me? It's a trap! Vance has armed men moving to lock down the ballroom!"
Inside the ballroom, Julian heard Sophia’s voice crystal-clear through his hidden earpiece. Without hesitating for a fraction of a second, Julian stood up, kicked his heavy oak chair backward, and flipped the solid mahogany dining table onto its side just as the ballroom doors were blown off their hinges by explosive charges.
Gunfire shattered the quiet elegance of the room. Panic erupted as mob bosses scrambled for cover. Vance drew a hidden pistol from beneath his coat—violating the sacred neutrality rule—and aimed it directly at Julian.
"You’re dead, Reeves!" Vance roared.
Julian lunged sideways behind a marble pillar as bullets chipped away the stone. Drawing a concealed ceramic pistol he had smuggled past security, Julian leaned out and fired three precise shots.
The first bullet struck Vance’s gun, knocking it from his hand. The second and third hit Vance in the shoulder and leg, collapsing the massive crime lord to the floor.
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"Thomas!" Julian shouted into his comms while laying down suppressive fire against Vance's advancing enforcers. "Get Sophia out of the area now!"
"No!" Sophia’s voice cut through the static, filled with fierce devotion. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
