Chapter 7 - The Trap at the Grain Silos
The atmosphere inside the Millennium Tower instantly shifted from calculated planning to absolute war.
Julian Vance had sent a radio transmission directly to Matteo's secure frequency: Bring the girl, Brielle Dawson, to the abandoned grain silos at the Calumet River by midnight, or Nonna Elena dies.
"He doesn't just want territory," Matteo said, his voice laced with venom as he checked the magazine of his custom sidearm. "He wants to humiliate me. He wants to execute the woman who ruined his ambush on 47th Street in front of me before he takes my life."
"He's using Nonna Elena as bait," Brielle said, strapping on her tactical vest. "Which means he expects us to come in recklessly. That gives us an opening."
"I am not letting you act as bait, Brielle," Matteo said firmly, grabbing her arm. "Julian is a monster. He won't honor any deals."
"I know he won't," Brielle looked at him without a trace of fear. "That's why we aren't making a deal. We're going there to kill him."
At midnight, heavy rain poured down over the industrial wasteland of the Calumet River. The massive, decaying concrete silos stood against the dark sky like giant tombstones.
Matteo walked through the front entrance of the main silo, his hands visible, his footsteps echoing against the hollow concrete walls. Brielle and Viktor's team had slipped in through the high-level catwalks using silenced grappling equipment, taking positions in the shadows fifty feet above the floor.
In the center of the vast, hollow room, illuminated by a single hanging spotlight, sat Nonna Elena tied to a wooden chair. Standing behind her was Julian Vance—a taller, gaunt, and scarred version of Matteo, his eyes bright with a manic, unhinged ambition. Surrounding them were at least fifteen heavily armed mercenaries.
"Welcome home, nephew," Julian sneered, holding a revolver against Elena's temple. "You've grown soft in your glass tower. Bringing waitresses into our bloodline business."
Matteo stopped twenty feet away. "Let my mother go, Julian. This is between you and me."
"It was always between you and me!" Julian shouted, his voice echoing violently off the concrete walls. "Your father threw me out like trash! But tonight, I take back everything that belongs to the Vance name!"
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From high up in the rafters, Brielle lined up her crosshairs through her night-vision scope, her target locked directly onto the hand Julian held against Elena's head.
"Now, nephew," Julian spat, looking around the dark shadows. "Where is the little street rat who ruined my plans? Tell her to step out, or I put a bullet through your mother's brain right now!"
