Chapter 7 - The Steel Fortress
The storm over Chicago matched the fury in Dominic’s heart. Thunder rolled across the sky as the convoy of SUVs parked a mile away from the abandoned steel mill.
Dominic stood in the rain, wearing full tactical gear. Beside him were thirty of his most loyal men. They knew this was a suicide mission, but they also knew that a Moretti never backs down when his blood is threatened.
"Listen to me," Dominic addressed his men, his voice cutting through the wind. "Lucian wants me. He wants to prove he is the true heir by defeating me. We exploit that pride. Team A, you enter through the drainage pipes and neutralize the snipers on the catwalks. Team B, create a diversion at the main gate. I am going in through the roof."
"Dom, it’s too risky," his commander warned. "The roof is highly exposed."
"He has my son," Dominic said simply. "There is no risk I won't take."
The assault began with a deafening explosion at the main gates. As Lucian’s mercenaries rushed to defend the perimeter, Dominic and his elite breach team rappelled down from the skylights of the massive, cavernous steel mill.
Dominic landed silently on a high gantry. Below him, the mill was a maze of rusted machinery, flickering halogen lights, and pockets of intense gunfire. He moved like a ghost, neutralizing targets with lethal, single-shot precision.
As he reached the central control floor, a spotlight suddenly flared on, blinding him.
"Welcome to my court, Dominic," Lucian’s voice echoed throughout the steel mill.
High above on a suspended platform, Lucian stood, holding a detonator in one hand and a suppressed pistol in the other. Below the platform, suspended over a deep, empty concrete pit, was a metal cage.
Inside the cage, ten-year-old Caleb was tied to a chair, his eyes wide with terror, but he wasn't crying. When he saw his father, his eyes lit up with hope.
"Dad!" Caleb screamed.
"Caleb, stay still!" Dominic yelled back, his heart pounding in his chest.
"A touching reunion," Lucian sneered, stepping to the edge of the platform. He looked remarkably like Dominic, sharing the same sharp jawline and cold eyes, but Lucian’s face was twisted by years of resentment and envy. "Our father gave you everything, Dominic. The name, the empire, the legitimacy. And what did he give me? Exile. A life in the shadows. Tonight, I take my birthright."
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"You want the name, Lucian? You want the empire?" Dominic said, throwing his rifle to the ground and raising his hands. "Take it. It’s yours. Just let my son go."
"Oh, it’s not that simple," Lucian laughed. "To truly become the boss of Chicago, I must destroy the legend of Dominic Moretti. Pick up your weapon, little brother. Let’s see who Vincent’s favorite son really is."
