Chapter 14 - NAVY PIER
Rain hammered Chicago at midnight.
Dominic walked alone toward the abandoned warehouse near Navy Pier.
At least, that was what Marco was supposed to believe.
Chloe was inside a surveillance van two blocks away.
Carlo was positioned on the roof.
Elias had men covering the river exit.
Dominic carried the ledger.
No visible weapon.
The warehouse door opened.
Marco stood beneath a single hanging light.
Luca sat tied to a chair.
“Daddy!”
Dominic’s entire body changed.
“I’m here.”
Marco laughed.
“Look at you.”
Dominic stared at him.
“You’re alive.”
“Disappointed?”
“I mourned you.”
“I know.”
“For eighteen years.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Marco’s face twisted.
“Because Father chose you.”
Dominic stared.
“Our father was dead before I took control.”
“He trained you.”
“He ignored me.”
“You were reckless.”
“I was firstborn!”
“And you murdered twelve of our own men because you were jealous?”
Marco smiled.
“It worked.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Until Sofia found out.”
Marco’s smile vanished.
“She was always too curious.”
Luca started crying.
“Don’t talk about Mommy.”
Marco looked at him.
“You’ve got her mouth.”
Dominic took one step forward.
“Look at me.”
Marco raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Dominic stopped.
“The ledger.”
Dominic held it up.
“Let Luca walk to me.”
“No.”
“You kill him, you lose leverage.”
Marco laughed.
“You finally learned something.”
Dominic tossed the ledger halfway across the floor.
Marco sent one man to retrieve it.
The man opened it.
“Looks real.”
Marco smiled.
“Good.”
He raised the gun toward Luca.
Dominic froze.
“We had a deal.”
“I lied.”
Marco pulled the trigger.
Click.
Nothing.
Marco stared at the weapon.
Luca suddenly ducked.
Chloe had replaced the magazine before Marco’s men captured Luca’s backpack and gun stash.
It was a gamble.
Now it paid off.
Dominic charged.
Gunfire erupted from the rafters.
Carlo fired.
Elias’s men entered.
Chloe ran through the side entrance.
“Luca!”
She cut the ropes.
Marco punched Dominic and grabbed a second gun.
He aimed at Chloe.
Dominic saw him.
“NO!”
He jumped between them.
The gun fired.
Dominic collapsed.
Luca screamed.
“DADDY!”
Chloe dropped beside him.
Blood spread across Dominic’s shirt.
Marco ran toward the river exit.
Carlo aimed.
Dominic grabbed his arm weakly.
“No.”
Carlo stared.
“He shot you.”
“Take him alive.”
Marco reached the dock.
Police boats surrounded the pier.
Federal agents stormed the building.
He had nowhere to go.
Marco turned.
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
Dominic looked at his brother from the floor.
“You spent eighteen years trying to steal my life.”
Marco raised his empty hands.
Dominic pulled Luca against his chest.
“You should’ve built one of your own.”
Agents tackled Marco.
Chloe pressed both hands against Dominic’s wound.
“Stay awake.”
He looked at her.
“I promised Luca I’d come back.”
“You’re not done yet.”
Dominic smiled weakly.
“You always this bossy?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
His eyes closed.
“Dominic!”
Luca started screaming.
May you like
“Daddy!”
Dominic didn’t move.
