Chapter 7 - The Third Wish
The SUV ground to a silent halt two blocks from the sprawling, decaying iron warehouse.
Rain lashed against the steel roof as Roman strapped on a tactical vest beneath his dark coat, loading extra magazines into his belt.
Antonio grabbed Roman’s arm, his face full of desperate concern. “Roman, listen to me. This is an ambush. Vane wants to take out the head of the DeLuca family once and for all. Let me take the assault team in first!”
“No,” Roman said flatly, pulling his hand away. “Ellie is inside. If Vane sees a tactical breach, he’ll execute her before we reach the main floor.”
Roman paused, reaching into his inner jacket pocket.
He pulled out the third and final cream-colored card that Ellie had left on his study desk before she was taken. He held it in his calloused fingers, looking at the elegant gold border.
He remembered the way she held her patched rabbit. He remembered her asking for pancakes. He remembered her innocent voice saying she wished her mother could rest.
I promised her three wishes, Roman thought. And I haven't granted the third one yet.
He tucked the card securely into his vest pocket, right over his heart.
“Antonio,” Roman instructed, looking his chief enforcer dead in the eye. “You give me three minutes. I go through the front entrance alone to draw their focus. The second gunfire erupts inside, you bring the heavy weapons through the rear loading bays and wipe out every breathing soul in that building.”
“Boss…” Antonio stammered, his eyes shining with loyalty and terror.
May you like
“That’s an order,” Roman barked.
He kicked open the SUV door, stepping out into the blinding downpour. He didn't run. He didn't hide in the shadows. He walked straight down the center of the flooded pavement toward the warehouse’s rusted double doors, a towering figure of pure, unstoppable vengeance.
