Chapter 16 - Trial by Iron
"Step away from the laptop, Don Dante!" Lord Valenti’s raspy voice echoed through the cavernous boathouse, amplified by the cold stone walls.
Behind Lord Valenti stood eight heavily armed mercenaries, their red laser targeting sights sweeping across the dark water and locking onto Dante’s broad chest.
Dante slowly stepped out from behind the boat console, shielding Elena and Lily with his massive frame. His expression was completely void of fear—only cold, predatory calculation remained.
"Lord Valenti," Dante spoke smoothly, his voice dropping into an icy register. "You brought your private army into my domain. That violates the 1994 Tri-State Accord."
Valenti let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "The Accord died the moment your little fiancée poisoned your food, Dante! I control sixty percent of the Syndicate Council now! Tomorrow at the Midnight Gala in Manhattan, I will be crowned the supreme ruler of the Five Families!"
"You won't make it to midnight, Valenti," Dante growled, his knuckles turning white on the hilt of his concealed knife.
"Oh, I think I will," Valenti sneered. He pointed a long, bony finger at five-year-old Lily. "Hand over the child and the biometric micro-drive, Dante. She carries the encryption key to the Moretti trust fund. Give her to me, and I’ll let you live long enough to watch me take your throne."
"You touch her," Dante whispered, taking one slow, heavy step forward, "and I tear your throat out with my bare hands."
Valenti’s eyes narrowed into slits. "Kill him."
Before the mercenaries could pull their triggers, Lily reached into her sweater pocket, pulled out a small silver emergency beacon Dante had given her, and slammed her tiny thumb onto the red panic button.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
A deafening, high-frequency sonic blast erupted from the boat’s emergency speakers, disorienting the mercenaries and sending two of them to their knees, clutching their bleeding ears.
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"NOW!" Dante roared.
He lunged forward like a striking panther, sweeping his tactical blade across the lead mercenary's throat before grabbing the man's dropped assault rifle and opening fire in the dark cavern!
