Chapter 8 - The Siege of St. Jude’s
Lorenzo didn't flinch. He stepped directly in front of me and Geno, shielding us with his broad body as he drew his pistol from his shoulder holster.
“Dominic,” Lorenzo said, his voice carrying a calm, terrifying authority that filled the sanctuary. “You brought mercenaries into our family’s church.”
Dominic laughed—a dry, bitter sound that bounced off the stained-glass windows. “Family? You’ve been running this empire like a tyrant for ten years, Lorenzo! You got soft! You bring a maid and her bastard into your house, you let a woman dictate your security... you were weak!”
Julian Vance stepped forward, adjusting the lapels of his tailored dark coat. “Hand over the bronze key and the port deeds, Moretti. We have thirty men surrounding this hill. Your perimeter guards outside are already down.”
I held my breath, clutching the back of Lorenzo’s suit jacket with my hand, my heart hammering like a trapped bird. In Geno’s arms behind me, Lena stirred, rubbing her eyes in the dim light of the flashlights.
Lorenzo offered a slow, cold smile.
“You think I came to St. Jude’s with eight men, Dominic?” Lorenzo asked softly.
Dominic’s smirk flickered. “What are you talking about?”
Lorenzo reached into his pocket and pressed a red button on a small, encrypted radio receiver.
Instantly, the high stained-glass windows along both sides of the sanctuary exploded inward in a shower of colorful glass fragments.
Dozens of red laser sights cut through the darkness, locking directly onto the chests of Dominic’s mercenaries.
From the choir loft above and the side confessionals, twenty elite Moretti tactical guards—wearing heavy body armor, armed with suppressed rifles—emerged from the shadows, completely encircling the mercenaries from the high ground.
“Did you really think I didn't know you were tracking my SUV, cousin?” Lorenzo growled, his voice echoing like thunder. “I let you follow me here so I could put all the rats in one cage.”
Julian Vance’s face went completely white. “Dominic... you said he didn't know!”
“Drop your weapons!” Geno bellowed from the altar, aiming his heavy weapon at Dominic’s forehead.
The mercenaries, realizing they were completely outgunned and surrounded from elevated positions, dropped their rifles onto the carpeted floor one by one, raising their hands in surrender.
Dominic backed away toward the front doors, his eyes wide with wild, manic panic. He raised his rifle toward Lorenzo.
Before he could pull the trigger, Lorenzo fired two precise shots.
The bullets struck Dominic in his right shoulder and knee. He let out a shrieking cry of pain, dropping his weapon and collapsing onto the marble floor, pool of blood spreading beneath his leg.
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Julian Vance fell to his knees, raising his hands high above his head, begging for mercy.
“Secure them,” Lorenzo ordered coldly, stepping down from the altar platform.
