Chapter 8 - The Threat from the East
Six months later, a sudden shadow attempted to stretch across the peaceful life they had built.
A rival syndicate boss from Chicago—a ruthless weapons dealer named Jonathan Cross—believed Dominic Rossi had grown "soft" because he had canceled his cartel marriage with the Morettis and brought a former maid into his inner circle.
Cross sent six armed operatives to infiltrate the Rossi Charitable Gala at the harbor hotel, intending to kidnap Skyler and hold her hostage to force Dominic into surrendering his shipping ports.
The gala was in full swing when the lights suddenly flickered and went out.
Panicked shouts echoed through the room as six men in black tactical gear burst through the side doors, raising automatic weapons.
"Nobody move!" the lead operative shouted, pointing his gun toward the head table where Skyler sat beside Carmela. "Where is the maid?! Where is Skyler Gallagher?!"
Skyler didn't panic.
Having spent a year living beside Dominic, she had learned the absolute discipline of the Rossi family.
She immediately pulled Carmela down behind the heavy marble head table, standing up calmly in front of the armed men, her high-end green silk dress catching the faint emergency lights.
"I am Skyler Gallagher," she said, her voice clear, calm, and utterly devoid of fear.
The lead operative smirked, stepping forward with heavy zip-ties. "You're coming with us, sweetheart. Cross wants to see what makes Dominic Rossi so soft—"
CLACK.
The sound of a tactical rifle being chambered echoed from the darkness above the balcony.
Suddenly, forty laser sights—bright red dots—appeared simultaneously across the chests of all six operatives.
Dominic Rossi stepped out from the shadows of the main stage.
He didn't look worried. He looked like an apex predator who had just walked his prey into an iron cage.
"You made a fatal mistake, boys," Dominic said, his voice echoing smoothly through the silent ballroom. "You thought my wife was my weakness."
The lead operative paled, realizing he was surrounded by seventy Rossi enforcers hiding in the gallery. "We... we have orders from Cross!"
"Cross is currently being arrested at the Chicago airport by federal marshals," Dominic informed them casually. "And as for you six..."
Skyler stepped forward, standing right beside Dominic, her hand slipping into his. She looked at the terrified operatives with cool, dignified authority.
"Drop your weapons," Skyler commanded calmly. "Before my husband loses his patience."
The six operatives dropped their automatic rifles onto the carpet in unison, throwing their hands into the air as Marco and his security team swarmed the floor to disarm them.
Carmela stepped out from behind the table, clapping her hands joyfully. "Bravo, Skyler! Beautifully done!"
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Dominic looked down at Skyler, kissing her hand with immense pride. "You really don't need my security team anymore, do you?"
"I have you," Skyler smiled, leaning into his side. "I don't need anything else."
