Chapter 7 - The Gathering Storm
Word of Dominic Russo’s impending marriage to Serena Mitchell sent shockwaves through the Chicago underground.
While the Russo syndicate celebrated their boss's found happiness, Don Sal Moretti viewed the union as a sign of weakness. Moretti, an old-school mafia patriarch whose power was fading, believed Dominic had turned soft by taking in a homeless woman and her children.
In a hidden basement lounge in Cicero, Don Moretti sat across from his remaining lieutenants, sipping red wine.
"Russo is distracted," Moretti declared, his voice raspy from decades of cigars. "He’s spending his days buying toys for children and planning a wedding instead of watching his supply lines along the river. This is our chance to take back the North Side docks."
"Don Moretti," warned one of his younger captains. "Russo isn't a man you poke lightly. He dismantled Marcus Vance in less than an hour."
"Vance was an idiot," Moretti spat. "Russo’s security detail at the docks is thin this week. We strike his main warehouse on 22nd Street on Friday night. Burn the shipment, kill his dock master, and show the syndicate that Dominic Russo is no longer fit to rule."
What Moretti did not know was that Dominic Russo had never turned soft.
In fact, Dominic’s intelligence network had breached Moretti’s communications weeks ago. Sitting in his estate command center, Dominic watched live audio transcripts of Moretti’s meeting scroll across his monitor screens.
Marcus, his security chief, stood beside him. "Boss, they’re planning to hit Warehouse 4 at midnight on Friday. Should we double the perimeter guards?"
Dominic leaned back in his leather chair, a cold, dangerous smile playing on his lips. "No. Reduce the guards. Make Warehouse 4 look completely abandoned."
Marcus frowned, puzzled. "Sir?"
"Don Moretti wants a war because he thinks I am weak," Dominic said softly, his voice dropping into a lethal register. "I won't give him a war, Marcus. I will give him an execution that will end his family’s influence in this city forever."
Meanwhile, upstairs, Serena was busy planning the wedding with Mrs. Gable. Beautiful silk fabric samples, floral arrangements of white roses and eucalyptus, and delicate invitation drafts were spread across the dining table.
When Dominic walked into the room later that evening, his harsh expression softened instantly at the sight of Serena laughing with Rose and Lily as they tried on tiny flower-girl dresses.
Serena looked up, noticing a brief flicker of exhaustion in his eyes. She walked over, taking his hand, and led him out onto the quiet patio.
May you like
"Is everything all right with the business, Dominic?" she asked softly, her perceptive eyes searching his face.
Dominic looked at her—this radiant, strong woman who had brought light into his dark world—and shook his head gently. "Just clearing out old trash, my love. By Friday night, our future will be completely secure."
