Chapter 6 - The Shadows Strike Back
Three weeks later.
The restructuring of the Moretti estate was nearly complete. The atmosphere inside the grand mansion had shifted dramatically. Laughter echoed through the hallways, and Emma had moved into a beautiful suite on the third floor, taking over management of the entire household staff with natural grace and authority.
However, in the dark underbelly of Chicago, Viktor Vance was a wounded, desperate animal.
Having lost his port deal, his top operatives, and millions of dollars in seized assets following the collapse of Hale Capital, Vance sat inside a fortress-like compound in the industrial district, surrounded by heavy weaponry and mercenary guards.
"Moretti destroyed everything!" Vance roared, slamming his fist onto a steel table, shattering a glass of vodka. "He took my money, he took my harbor access, and he turned my own men over to the Feds!"
Standing beside him was Ivan, his cold-blooded second-in-command. "Moretti is untouchable inside his estate, Viktor. His security perimeter is tighter than NORAD now. We can't hit him at home."
"Then we don't hit him at home," Vance snarled, his yellowed teeth bared in a vicious grin. "Where does the maid go?"
Ivan checked a tablet. "Emma Bennett leaves the estate every Thursday afternoon to visit her late husband's grave at St. Jude's Cemetery. She goes with two Moretti security guards."
"Two guards," Vance chuckled darkly. "Deploy six men with heavy armor and anti-vehicle rifles. Do not kill her. Bring her to the old grain silo at the river. If I have the maid, Moretti will walk straight into my crosshairs."
Thursday afternoon was overcast and solemn.
Emma stood before a modest granite headstone in the peaceful, tree-lined grounds of St. Jude's Cemetery, holding a bouquet of fresh white lilies. Ten yards behind her, two of Alessandro’s top security men, clad in dark suits, kept a vigilant watch.
Lily was back at the estate, taking her afternoon painting lesson.
"I miss you, David," Emma whispered to the headstone, laying the flowers down. "But... I think you would be happy knowing Lily and I are safe now. Someone is looking out for us."
Suddenly, the quiet serenity of the cemetery was shattered by the roaring engines of two heavy black armored delivery vans tearing through the stone gates.
Before the Moretti guards could draw their weapons, the side doors of the vans burst open. Mercenaries armed with suppressed automatic rifles opened fire, hitting both guards with non-lethal stun darts that dropped them instantly to the grass.
Emma screamed, backing away toward the headstone.
Four masked men surged forward, grabbing her arms, pinning her hands behind her back.
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"Keep her quiet!" one of the men barked, pulling a black velvet hood over her head.
Within thirty seconds, Emma was thrown into the back of the van, the heavy doors slammed shut, and the vehicles sped away into the afternoon fog.
