Chapter 6 - The Lion Awakes
In a small, dimly lit room on the second floor of the town inn, Dante stood before a long wooden table.
Laid out before him were no longer financial documents or satellite phones.
There were two matte-black 9mm handguns, custom-fitted with suppressors, along with tactical body armor, reinforced gloves, and a high-frequency communications headset.
Valen stood beside him, adjusting her shoulder holster.
"Julian Vane has six men stationed at the edge of town," Valen reported, her tone sharp. "They've cut the landline wires to the police station. The local sheriff is currently locked inside his office after being paid twenty thousand dollars by Vane’s men to turn a blind eye tonight."
Dante strapped the Kevlar vest tightly across his chest, pulled his black sweater over it, and picked up his primary sidearm, checking the magazine with practiced, effortless efficiency.
"They threatened the girl," Dante said softly. His voice was no longer that of 'Daniel' the quiet vagrant. It was the voice of the apex predator who had ruled Boston’s underworld for fifteen years.
"Dante," Valen warned, looking into his eyes. "If you eliminate Julian Vane tonight, there is no going back. Aldo will know you're alive. The entire syndicate will mobilize against you."
Dante racked the slide of his pistol with a sharp, lethal CLACK.
"Let them," Dante said, his dark eyes burning with absolute, terrifying resolve. "Aldo thought my father’s empire was built on money and fear. He forgot that it was built on blood."
He pulled on his black leather gloves and picked up his heavy wool coat.
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"Where are you going?" Valen asked.
"To keep a promise," Dante said. "It's four o'clock. And someone owes me a bowl of soup."
