Chapter 16 - Blood on the Marble
The retaliation for Salvatore’s brutal display of dominance was swift, desperate, and incredibly violent.
Dante, furious that his financial fronts were being squeezed and his captains captured, decided to strike at the absolute heart of Salvatore’s world.
Tessa was walking through the grand marble lobby of the foundation’s headquarters, accompanied by two of Salvatore’s massive bodyguards.
It was mid-afternoon, and the busy downtown street outside was flooded with innocent civilians and corporate workers.
Suddenly, a heavy, unmarked commercial delivery van violently jumped the curb, smashing directly through the foundation's massive glass doors.
Shattered glass rained down like lethal daggers across the pristine marble floor.
"Get down!" one of the bodyguards roared, violently tackling Tessa behind the solid concrete reception desk.
The back doors of the van flew open, and four heavily armed mercenaries wearing tactical masks poured into the lobby, firing automatic weapons.
The deafening roar of gunfire echoed through the elegant building, tearing through priceless artwork and shattering the peaceful sanctuary.
Tessa covered her ears, completely terrified but remarkably present, refusing to let the panic consume her mind.
Salvatore’s bodyguards returned fire with lethal, terrifying precision, turning the lobby into an absolute warzone.
One mercenary fell, clutching his chest, while another laid down suppressive fire, desperately trying to advance toward Tessa’s position.
"We are pinned down, we need immediate backup!" the bodyguard yelled into his radio, reloading his weapon flawlessly.
Tessa noticed a heavy bronze statue of a dove resting on a pedestal just a few feet away.
While the guards were completely focused on the front entrance, a third mercenary had managed to flank them, sneaking up the side corridor.
He raised his weapon, aiming directly at the blind spot of Tessa’s protectors.
Without thinking, Tessa grabbed the heavy bronze statue and hurled it with every ounce of strength she possessed.
The heavy metal struck the flanking mercenary directly in the face, knocking him backward with a sickening crunch.
The momentary distraction allowed Salvatore’s guards to pivot and eliminate the immediate threat entirely.
Within three minutes, the heavy wail of police sirens flooded the street, forcing the surviving mercenaries to violently flee the scene.
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Tessa slowly stood up from behind the ruined desk, brushing shattered glass off her designer suit, her hands shaking violently.
She had survived the ambush, but the brutal reality of loving a mafia boss had finally crashed through her front door.
