Chapter 6 - The Shipyard Trap
I arrived at the freezing, desolate Brooklyn shipyard completely unarmed, just as I was instructed.
The snow was falling heavily, blanketing the rusted industrial shipping containers in a thick layer of pristine white.
I walked slowly toward Pier Seven, the exact location where Eleanor and I had first met a decade ago during a business gala.
Rosa stepped quietly out of the deep shadows, aiming a heavy, polished revolver directly at my racing heart.
"You broke her beautiful heart, Lucian, after everything she sacrificed for you," the older woman spat with pure, unadulterated venom.
"I know I did, and I will spend the rest of my miserable life trying to fix it," I pleaded honestly, raising my empty hands.
Rosa kept the heavy gun raised, her dark eyes filled with absolute, unwavering distrust.
Eleanor slowly stepped out from behind a massive, rusted shipping crate.
She looked incredibly exhausted, clutching her swollen pregnant stomach protectively against the biting, freezing wind.
"You cannot simply fix this disaster with empty apologies, Lucian," Eleanor said softly, her voice carrying over the crashing waves.
"Victor's men are systematically tearing your entire syndicate apart as we speak."
"I brought you here to give you the secret ledger so you can trade it for your pathetic life."
She held up a thick, leather-bound book containing all the criminal secrets that could dismantle the entire East Coast underworld.
I shook my head slowly and took a cautious step toward the woman I loved.
"I absolutely do not care about my life, my money, or the syndicate anymore."
"I only care about protecting you and our unborn son."
Suddenly, the blinding, aggressive glare of high-powered tactical spotlights illuminated the entire length of the pier.
Dozens of Victor Rossi's heavily armed, ruthless mercenaries stepped out of the shadows, completely surrounding us.
Victor stepped smoothly out of a sleek black vehicle, dragging a terrified, sobbing Celeste roughly by her hair.
May you like
"How incredibly touching," Victor sneered mockingly, pressing a suppressed handgun to the younger woman's temple.
"Hand over the financial ledger right now, or your beautiful mistress dies right here in the snow."
