Chapter 4 - The Moretti Ultimatum
With Dominic exposed, the true mastermind behind the downfall of the Valente family scrambled to consolidate power.
Dominic’s betrayal ran deeper than anyone had imagined. He had entered into a secret alliance with Don Victor Moretti, the ruthless leader of the rival syndicate operating out of New Jersey. Moretti had promised Dominic full control of the Valente empire once Ezra and his daughter were eliminated.
At 2:00 AM, the perimeter alarms of the Long Island estate began to wail.
The power to the main mansion cut out instantly, plunging the vast halls into pitch darkness. Emergency red floodlights flickered on, casting eerie shadows across the polished wooden floors.
In the master suite, Lena grabbed Rosie, pulling her into the hidden panic room built behind the walk-in closet. Brutus, moving slowly but with renewed strength, trotted inside, his ears pinned back, standing guard at the heavy steel door.
"Stay here, Rosie," Lena warned softly, racking the slide of her 9mm pistol. "No matter what you hear outside."
"No," Rosie said firmly, holding Lena’s arm. "They aren't coming for Papa. They're coming for Brutus. They want the physical paper records hidden in his old crate."
Downstairs, heavy gunfire shattered the silence of the night.
Victor Moretti had sent twenty heavily armed mercenaries to storm the estate while Ezra’s main forces were consolidating the city territories. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and the sound of automatic rifle fire echoed through the grand hallway.
Ezra stood at the top of the grand staircase, a heavy semi-automatic rifle in his hands, firing with terrifying, surgical precision. Beside him, Marco and three loyal soldiers held the landing, driving back the waves of attackers attempting to push up the stairs.
Suddenly, a tear gas canister bounced up the stairs, releasing a thick, blinding cloud of white smoke!
"Cover!" Marco shouted, coughing violently as the smoke burned his eyes.
Through the haze, three mercenaries clad in dark tactical gear pushed past the stairs, heading directly toward the private wing where Rosie was hidden!
"Rosie!" Ezra roared, swinging his rifle around, but a spray of gunfire forced him back behind a stone pillar!
The mercenaries reached the end of the hall, pointing a heavy breaching charge at the panic room door!
"Plant it! Clear the room!" the lead mercenary commanded.
Before he could attach the charge, the steel door of the panic room swung open!
Brutus hurtled out of the darkness like a demon released from hell! Despite his injuries, the eighty-pound mastiff hit the lead mercenary with the force of a battering ram, his heavy jaws clamping around the man's forearm, ripping him to the carpet!
Simultaneously, Lena stepped out from behind the doorframe, firing three perfectly grouped shots into the second mercenary’s tactical vest, knocking him off his feet!
The third mercenary panicked, raising his weapon toward Lena, but Rosie raised a brass whistle to her lips and blew a sharp, piercing frequency!
Brutus released the first man and lunged sideways, tearing the third mercenary to the floor before he could pull the trigger!
Ezra burst through the dissipating tear gas, firing two quick rounds to secure the hallway. He slid to his knees beside his daughter, pulling her into a fierce, desperate embrace.
"Are you hurt? Mia cara, are you hurt?" Ezra rasped, his face covered in soot and sweat.
"I'm okay, Papa," Rosie said, wrapping her small arms around his neck. "Lena and Brutus protected me."
Ezra looked up at Lena, who stood holding her smoking firearm, her eyes sharp and alert.
May you like
"You're not just a bodyguard, Miss Carver," Ezra said, awe evident in his voice. "Who trained you?"
Lena gave a grim, sad smile as she reloaded her magazine. "Six years in the 75th Ranger Regiment before I took that housekeeping job, Mr. Valente. I told you... I don't let anyone hurt my family."
