Chapter 8 - The Fire on the Waterfront
At midnight, as the gala concluded, the snow began to fall in thick, heavy sheets over Chicago.
Vincent, Clara, and Leo stepped out into the private, enclosed VIP garage beneath the hotel, flanked by Carmine and four armed guards. The dark SUV motorcade stood waiting, engines idling, exhaust clouding the chill air.
As Carmine opened the rear door for Clara and Leo, a deafening sound echoed through the concrete garage.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Two smoke grenades bounced across the concrete floor, instantly filling the garage with blinding, acrid white smoke!
Screams echoed as automatic gunfire erupted from behind the concrete pillars!
"AMBUSH!" Carmine roared, pulling his weapon and firing back into the white haze. "GET THE DON AND THE LADY INTO THE CAR!"
Vincent acted with lightning speed. He grabbed Leo, shoving the boy down onto the floorboard of the armored SUV, throwing his broad body over Clara as a hail of bullets shattered the vehicle’s side mirrors!
"Carmine! Drive!" Vincent commanded, slamming the heavy armored door shut from the inside!
The SUV roared forward, smashing through a wooden security gate, bursting out into the snow-filled alleyway! But two black vans pulled out from the side street, ramming into the side of the SUV, forcing it off the road!
The SUV skidded wildly across the ice, crashing hard into an abandoned shipping warehouse near the riverfront!
The engine died. Smoke poured from the hood.
Inside, Vincent wiped a smear of blood from his forehead. He checked Clara and Leo instantly. "Are you hit? Clara! Leo!"
"We're okay!" Clara gasped, pulling a crying Leo tightly into her lap, shielding him with her body. "Vincent, your head—"
"Stay down!" Vincent ordered.
He pulled a heavy custom pistol from his shoulder holster, checking the magazine with practiced, terrifying calm.
Outside, heavy footsteps approached the wrecked SUV. Through the cracked, bulletproof glass, Dominic Vance stepped into view, surrounded by six heavily armed men.
"Come out, Calvetti!" Vance shouted, his voice echoing off the brick walls of the empty warehouse district. "It's over! You have nowhere to run!"
Vincent looked at Clara. In the dim light of the dashboard, his eyes were clear, fierce, and filled with a quiet, absolute promise.
"Stay in the car, Clara," Vincent whispered, touching her cheek gently. "Keep Leo low."
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"Vincent, no!" Clara begged, grabbing his lapel. "There are too many of them!"
Vincent smiled—a warm, beautiful smile that melted every fear in her heart. "They brought guns, my love. But I brought a wife who taught me what I'm fighting for."
