Chapter 13 - Stand
The abandoned steel mill was a cavern of shadows and rust. Marco Moretti stood in the center, flanked by ten heavily armed guards. Tied to a chair in the middle of the room was Claire, her lip bleeding, but her eyes defiant.
The heavy loading doors rolled open. Sebastian Lombardi wheeled himself into the light, entirely alone.
Marco laughed, echoing through the hollow warehouse. "Look at the great king of Chicago. Rolling in like a cripple."
Sebastian stopped twenty feet away. His eyes locked onto Claire. Are you okay? he mouthed. She gave a tiny nod.
"I brought the paperwork," Sebastian said, tossing a manila folder onto the concrete. "Let her go."
"I think I'll keep her," Marco smiled, drawing his gun. "And I'll kill you right here. The rumors were fake. You're still just a broken toy."
"You always were stupid, Marco," Sebastian whispered.
Sebastian grabbed the armrests of his chair. He engaged the locks on his titanium braces through his trousers. With a massive heave of his shoulders, Sebastian pushed himself up.
Marco’s smile vanished. The ten guards stepped back in shock.
Sebastian stood at his full six-foot-three height, casting a long, terrifying shadow.
"Signal," Sebastian roared.
Glass shattered from above. Gabriel's snipers opened fire. Three of Marco's men dropped instantly.
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In the chaos, Marco panicked and aimed his gun at Claire. But Sebastian was already moving. Fighting through agonizing pain, he took two heavy, thunderous steps forward, drew both pistols, and fired.
Marco Moretti took two hollow-point bullets to the chest before he could pull the trigger. He collapsed, dead.
