Chapter 4 - The Hunt at Pier 4
The storm broke over the coast just as the convoy of armored Marquetti vehicles tore down the winding coastal highway toward Castellammare.
Rain lashed against the bulletproof windows of the lead SUV. Adrienne sat in the rear seat, racking the slide of his tactical carbine while Clara sat beside him, holding a encrypted radio unit.
"You shouldn't be here, Clara," Adrienne said, not looking up from his weapon. "This is going to get violent."
"My mother’s heart transplant is scheduled for six o'clock tomorrow morning at St. Jude’s," Clara replied, her voice remarkably steady despite the adrenaline roaring through her veins. "Signora Sofia promised to pay for the donor heart if I worked for ninety days without complaint. Then she set me up so she wouldn't have to pay."
Adrienne froze. He set the rifle down across his knees and turned to face her, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What did you just say?" Adrienne demanded.
"The jewelry," Clara whispered. "The emerald necklace that was found in my mattress yesterday morning. I didn't steal it, Adrienne. Your mother placed it there herself because the ninety-day contract was up today, and the hospital bill was due."
Adrienne clicked his jaw tight, his hands gripping the rifle so hard his knuckles turned white.
"My mother lied to me," he said, his voice dropping into a terrifying register. "She told me you demanded fifty thousand dollars in cash and fled when she threatened to call the police."
"I never asked for money," Clara said. "I only wanted my mother to live."
Adrienne reached out, taking Clara’s cold hand in his. His grip was warm, solid, and absolute.
"Your mother’s surgery is paid for," Adrienne said, looking directly into her eyes. "I authorized the full transfer to St. Jude’s four hours ago from my personal account. Regardless of what happens tonight, she gets her heart."
Tears pricked at the corners of Clara’s eyes, but she blinked them back, squeezing his hand in return. "Thank you, Adrienne."
"Don't thank me," he said gently. "You saved my life twice. I’m just paying my debts."
The SUV lurched to a halt behind a row of rusted shipping containers near the edge of Pier 4. The heavy scent of salt water, diesel exhaust, and wet rust filled the night air.
Outside, the rain fell in heavy sheets, blurring the yellow sodium lights of the dock yard.
"Target boat is docked at berth nine," the lead tactical agent reported from the front seat. "We have eyes on two armed guards on the deck. Aldo Falconee is inside the cabin."
Adrienne adjusted his tactical vest. "No survivors except Aldo. I want him breathing when we take him back to the estate."
He looked at Clara. "Stay in the vehicle. Lock the doors from the inside."
"Adrienne," Clara called out as he reached for the door handle.
May you like
He paused, looking back over his shoulder.
"Watch the cranes," she warned, pointing through the fogged glass toward a rusted gantry crane looming fifty feet above berth nine. "If Aldo is as paranoid as I think he is, he didn't put all his men on the boat."
