Chapter 8 - The Betrayal at the Docks
The peace was short-lived.
Two weeks later, the grand jury returned an indictment—not against Damian, but against Vincent Moretti for long-term extortion and grand theft.
Desperate and facing decades in federal prison, Moretti decided to burn everything down.
It happened on a cold Tuesday afternoon. Natalie was returning from an educational therapy session with Ava at a private clinic in Evanston.
Their convoy was ambushed.
A heavy garbage truck ran a red light, violently slamming into the lead security vehicle carrying Marco. Two black vans boxed in Natalie’s sedan from the side and rear.
Before the driver could react, masked men with heavy weapons shattered the sedan's side windows with sledgehammers, spraying safety glass everywhere.
"Out! Get out of the car!" a harsh voice screamed.
Natalie threw her body over Ava on the rear seat, shielding the screaming child with her own body. "Don't touch her! Don't touch her!"
A heavy hand grabbed Natalie by her hair, ripping her out of the vehicle onto the cold pavement, while another man grabbed the frantic, screaming Ava.
"Bring both of them!" the lead kidnapper barked. "Moretti wants the girl and the nanny at the Pier 42 warehouse now!"
Natalie was shoved into the back of a van, her wrists bound tightly with zip-ties. She pulled Ava into her lap, wrapping her body around the sobbing child, holding her tightly against her chest despite the agonizing pain in her arms.
"Shh, Ava, shh," Natalie whispered into the child's hair, forcing herself to stay calm despite the terror freezing her blood. "Listen to my voice. Feel the vibration. We are safe. Your daddy is coming. I promise you, your daddy is coming."
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Natalie knew how Damian worked. She knew every DeLuca family vehicle was equipped with silent GPS transmitters embedded deep within the chassis—and she knew her emerald necklace held a tiny micro-locator Damian had secretly added after the gala.
Damian was already on his way. And when he arrived, hell was coming with him.
