Chapter 4 - The Threat in the Shadows
The destruction of Tommy Rossi’s miserable business did not go entirely unnoticed.
Rossi was a pathetic coward, but he kicked up a portion of his money to the Falcone crime family.
The Falcones were old, bitter rivals of the Moretti empire, completely lacking in honor or respect.
Don Carlo Falcone sat at the head of a long mahogany table in a dark, smoke-filled basement.
He was a ruthless, aging monster who believed fear was the only true currency in New York.
Tommy Rossi was kneeling on the floor in front of the table, begging for his miserable life.
"Moretti burned all your money, Don Falcone!" Tommy cried, pointing desperately at his bruised neck.
"He did it over some pathetic cleaning lady and her brat kid!"
Don Falcone took a slow, thoughtful drag from his expensive Cuban cigar.
For twenty years, Adrian Moretti had been completely untouchable, a ghost made of bulletproof glass.
Adrian had no wife, no children, and absolutely zero personal weaknesses.
Until exactly this moment.
"You are telling me that the great Adrian Moretti risked an open war over a six-year-old girl?" Falcone asked.
"Yes!" Tommy sobbed. "He put the mother in a luxury hospital wing and pays for everything!"
A wicked, terrifying smile slowly spread across Don Falcone’s wrinkled, scarred face.
He had finally found the chink in the impenetrable armor of the Moretti empire.
"If Moretti cares about this child, then this child is the key to breaking his entire organization," Falcone declared.
He turned to his oldest, most violent son, Vincent.
"Find out exactly where this hospital is located," Falcone ordered softly.
"I want you to snatch the little girl and bring her directly to me."
"We will see how much of his empire Moretti is willing to trade for her safe return."
Vincent smiled, pulling a heavy combat knife from his leather belt.
"Consider it completely done, Father," Vincent promised.
The shadows of the criminal underworld began to shift violently.
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A massive, bloody storm was rapidly approaching the hospital.
And Mia Carter was standing directly in the center of the deadly crosshairs.
