Chapter 7 - The Limestone Quarry
The old limestone quarry of San Siro was a desolate white scar on the landscape, hours north of the city. The towering limestone walls reflected the harsh afternoon sun, creating a blinding, heat-baked amphitheater of dust and rock.
Alessandro parked his black sedan in the center of the quarry floor. He stepped out, carrying a silver briefcase containing the encrypted hardware keys to the Duca family's global financial reserves.
From the shadow of a massive stone-crushing machine, Beatrice Duca stepped out. She was in her late sixties, dressed in an elegant white linen suit that matched the color of the quarry, her gray hair pulled back tightly. Behind her stood four mercenaries, holding Sophia and Emma. Sophia’s face was bruised, and Emma was weeping quietly, clutching her gray rabbit which was now covered in white limestone dust.
"You came alone," Beatrice noted, her eyes fixed on the silver briefcase. "How touching. The great patriarch, risking everything for a servant."
"The briefcase is yours, Beatrice," Alessandro said, tossing it into the dust between them. "Let them go."
Beatrice signaled one of her men to retrieve the briefcase. He opened it, checked the digital screen of the hardware keys, and nodded to her.
"Perfect," Beatrice smiled, pulling a small silver pistol from her jacket. "Now, there’s only one small problem, Alessandro. I can't let you leave here alive to tell the authorities. And as for the maid and the child... they know far too much about the medicine."
One of the mercenaries pulled a plastic bottle containing a clear liquid from his vest, forcing Sophia’s head back.
"No!" Alessandro shouted, taking a step forward.
"Stop right there, nephew, or I’ll put a bullet in the child myself," Beatrice snapped, aiming her pistol at Emma.
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"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Signora," a voice boomed from the cliffs above.
Suddenly, the blinding white quarry was illuminated by the laser sights of a dozen tactical rifles. Caleb and a full platoon of Duca security forces appeared along the upper ridge of the quarry, their weapons trained on Beatrice and her men.
