Chapter 17 - NIGHT AT THE OLD HARBOR
"You're bluffing!" Julian screamed, his hand trembling on the trigger. "Shoot them all!"
Before his mercenaries could raise their weapons, red laser sights suddenly flooded the warehouse through the broken skylights above.
"FBI and Chicago PD! Drop your weapons immediately!" a booming voice echoed over a police megamaphone outside. SWAT tactical teams smashed through the reinforced glass windows, rappelling down ropes into the warehouse with blinding flashbangs.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Disorientation and deafening sound filled the air. Julian’s mercenaries panicked, throwing down their rifles and dropping to their knees as armed federal officers swarmed the floor.
In the chaos, Julian gritted his teeth, racking the slide of his pistol, and aimed at Dante's chest. "If I go down, you go with me, Moretti!"
Dante didn't flinch. In one swift, terrifyingly graceful motion, Dante stepped inside Julian's guard, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it downward. The bone snapped with an audible crunch. Julian shrieked in pain, dropping the silver gun to the concrete floor.
Dante slammed Julian against the metal pillar, pinning him by the throat with one massive forearm. Julian gasped for air, staring into the cold, terrifying blue eyes of the legendary Don he had foolishly provoked.
"I promised my wife I would protect her light," Dante whispered into Julian's ear, his voice dark and smooth as velvet. "And I promised to keep my hands clean. You should thank her, Julian... because if she hadn't saved my soul, I would have fed you to the lake tonight."
Dante released his grip. Julian collapsed to his knees, coughing uncontrollably, as SWAT officers tackled him to the ground and slapped heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists.
Captain Miller walked up to Dante and Grace, putting away his sidearm. He looked at Julian being dragged away, then turned to the couple with deep respect.
"Clean arrest. Zero civilian casualties, full financial seizure, and Rossi is going away for thirty years," Miller said, shaking Dante's hand. "You kept your word, Moretti."
May you like
"I always keep my word, Captain," Dante replied softly, turning to pull Grace into his arms.
Grace wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against his shoulder. He held her tight, feeling her heart beating against his chest—steady, safe, and warm.
