Chapter 4 - The Storming of Widow’s Island
The ocean off the coast of New York churned violently beneath the black storm clouds. Three high-speed tactical boats sliced through the cresting waves toward Widow’s Island.
Alessandro stood at the bow of the lead vessel, clad in body armor, his knuckles white around the grip of his assault rifle. Under the flashes of lightning, the ancient stone lighthouse rose from the jagged sea cliffs like a giant monolith.
"Boss, the island is heavily fortified with mines and Dominic’s mercenaries," Marco reported through the earpiece. "A direct assault on the docks is suicide."
"We don't need the docks. We scale the eastern cliffs," Alessandro ordered coldly. "Single objective: secure Isabella. Kill anyone who stands in your way."
Using tactical grappling lines, Alessandro’s men scaled the sheer rock face in the pouring rain. Every movement was swift and lethal. Dominic’s perimeter guards were neutralized one by one in absolute silence before they could raise the alarm.
Infiltrating the base of the lighthouse, the air smelled heavily of damp salt and rust. Alessandro led his squad down a spiral stone staircase into the subterranean levels beneath the structure.
Deep within the basement, behind a heavy iron cell door, sat a thin, fragile figure on a narrow cot. The dim glow of a lantern illuminated her dark, cascading hair and pale, beautiful face.
Isabella.
Alessandro’s breath caught in his throat. For four agonizing months, this woman’s memory had haunted his every waking moment.
"Isabella..." he called out, his voice trembling despite his best efforts.
The woman in the cell flinched. When her eyes met his through the iron bars, tears immediately spilled down her cheeks.
"Alessandro...? No... No, you shouldn't be here!" she gasped in horror. "It’s a trap!"
BOOM!
A massive explosion detonated from the stairwell above, shaking the foundation of the lighthouse. Dust and stone debris rained down from the ceiling.
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The leader of Dominic’s mercenary force stepped onto the upper iron catwalk, holding a remote detonator.
"Welcome, Don Romano!" the mercenary yelled over the ringing in their ears. "Don Dominic left strict instructions! The base of this lighthouse is rigged with C4! You step out of that cell, and we all drown together!"
