Chapter 9 - The Siege of Pier 19
Pier 19 was an abandoned industrial fish processing plant sitting at the edge of the dark, churning ocean. Rain lashed against the rusted corrugated iron walls, and waves crashed violently against the wooden pilings below.
Inside the cavernous, dimly lit warehouse, Victor Moretti sat on a crate, smoking a cigar. Beside him, tied to a wooden chair with heavy ropes, was little Sadie. Despite her fear, she kept her chin up, remembering what Enzo had told her about being brave.
"He won't come alone, Boss," one of Moretti’s mercenaries warned, checking the magazine of his assault rifle. "Enzo Marchetti will bring his entire army."
"Let him come," Victor sneered, blowing a cloud of gray smoke. "I have his weakness right here. He steps one foot inside this warehouse, and I blow this child's head off. He’ll sign over the ledger and hand over his territory, or he leaves in a body bag."
Suddenly, the massive wooden doors of the warehouse exploded inward.
A wall of black armored vehicles crashed through the entrance, tearing through wooden crates and steel barriers. Heavy automatic gunfire echoed through the high ceilings as Enzo’s strike team poured into the building, engaging Moretti’s men in an overwhelming firestorm.
"Cover the girl!" Victor screamed, grabbing Sadie by her collar and pulling her behind a steel shipping container.
Through the smoke and flashes of gunfire, a single figure walked calmly into the warehouse. Enzo Marchetti moved like an unstoppable force of nature, firing his weapon with deadly precision, taking down three mercenaries in a span of five seconds without missing a single step.
"MORETTI!" Enzo’s voice roared through the thunderous noise of battle.
Victor panicked. He raised his gun toward Sadie, his hands trembling violently. "STAY BACK, MARCHETTI! I’LL KILL HER! I SWEAR TO GOD I’LL KILL HER!"
Before Victor could pull the trigger, a small, swift blur rushed out from behind a stack of barrels.
Brutus, the massive Rottweiler who had followed Enzo into the fight, leaped through the air, his powerful jaws locking around Victor’s arm.
Victor shrieked in agony, dropping his weapon to the concrete floor as the dog dragged him down.
Enzo sprinted forward, kicking the fallen weapon away. He unholstered his firearm, aiming it directly between Victor Moretti’s eyes.
"Please... Enzo... mercy!" Victor begged, holding his bleeding arm. "We can make a deal! Half my territory... millions in cash!"
Enzo looked down at the man who had ordered the attack on Claire, who had terrified a seven-year-old child, and who had brought war to his family.
"You touched my family," Enzo whispered coldly. "There are no deals."
A single shot echoed through the warehouse.
Enzo immediately turned around, holstering his weapon as Ray cut the ropes binding Sadie to the chair. The little girl threw her arms around Enzo's neck, sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder.
May you like
"I knew you'd come," Sadie wept. "I knew you wouldn't let them hurt me."
Enzo held her tight against his chest, kissing the top of her head. "I’m here, sweetheart. You're going home."
