Chapter 9 - The Siege of Pier 18
At 4:00 AM on Friday morning, the fog over Pier 18 was shattered by the flashing blue and red lights of twelve federal environmental enforcement vehicles and three armored police units.
Victor Vance stepped out onto the loading dock of his warehouse in his undershirt, his eyes wide with disbelief as federal agents poured out of the vehicles with federal seizure warrants in hand.
"What the hell is this?!" Victor screamed over the noise of sirens. "This is private property!"
A federal agent with a bullhorn stepped forward. "Victor Vance! This property has been condemned under Environmental Protection Act Section 402 for hazardous discharge into public waterways! All personnel must evacuate the premises immediately!"
Inside the warehouse, agents uncovered forty illegal weapons crates hidden inside the refrigeration units—exactly where Marcus’s team had tipped off the federal task force.
Victor was slammed against the side of a police cruiser, silver cuffs clicking tightly around his wrists.
As the officers pulled him into the back of the car, a black sedan pulled up to the curb.
The back window rolled down slowly.
Dante Moretti sat in the leather interior, sipping a warm cup of coffee. Beside him sat Elena, holding a set of official condemnation blueprints signed by the state governor.
Victor glared through the glass, his face twisted in absolute fury. "You did this!" he roared. "You used the law!"
Elena looked out at him, her voice cool and calm through the open window. "I told you, Mr. Vance. Paper burns... but the law stands."
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Dante looked at Vance with icy finality. "Enjoy federal prison, Victor. My family owns the docks now."
The window rolled up, and the black sedan smoothly drove away into the morning light.
