Chapter 8 - The Siege Within
Before Silvio could react, the lights in the conference room flickered out.
Gunfire shattered the silence. Muzzle flashes lit up the darkness in strobe-like bursts. Damian dropped to the floor, drawing his weapon, firing two shots toward the silhouettes guarding Silvio. Both bodyguards collapsed with heavy thuds.
The emergency red lighting kicked on.
Luca burst through the double doors, flanked by four Romano enforcers with automatic rifles trained directly on the survivors. Silvio’s remaining men immediately threw their weapons to the floor and raised their hands.
Silvio sat frozen in his chair, his oxygen mask trembling against his face. "Damian... you wouldn't dare. The council will tear you apart."
"The council will do what I tell them to do," Damian said, stepping up to the old man. He drew his knife and cleanly severed the rubber tube of Silvio's oxygen tank. Silvio gasped, his eyes wide with sudden panic.
"Where is Clara?" Damian demanded, leaning over the table.
"Warehouse... forty-two... docks..." Silvio sputtered, clutching his throat. "Please... Damian..."
Damian tossed the backup regulator onto the table. "You have twenty minutes before that regulator runs out. If my sister isn't alive when I get to that warehouse, no one is bringing you a new tank."
Damian turned to Luca. "Lock him in the vault. Cassian, stay with Mia. If anyone approaches her room, shoot them without warning."
May you like
Ten minutes later, three armored SUVs blasted through the compound gates into the raging storm, tearing down the highway toward the Philadelphia docks.
***
