Chapter 5 - The Climax at the Docks
The rain had turned into a full-blown storm by midnight.
We were parked on a ridge overlooking the shipping canal, the black SUV hidden beneath the shadow of a massive steel crane. Through the blurred windshield, we could see Warehouse 4.
Several black sedans belonging to the Valenti family were parked outside. Men in heavy coats were frantically loading crates into the back of a truck, their flashlights cutting through the dark, rainy night.
They think they are clever, Salvatore signed, watching the scene through a pair of binoculars. But they do not know my men have already intercepted the logistics tracker.
Suddenly, the night was split by the loud, wailing sirens of law enforcement.
Blue and red lights flooded the docks, reflecting off the wet asphalt. Dozens of federal agents swarmed the warehouse, their weapons drawn. We watched as Dominic Valenti’s men were slammed against the hoods of their cars, handcuffed, and dragged away.
Among the chaos, I saw the scarred man—the one who had whispered the trap at the Drake. He was being led away in cuffs, his face twisted in a look of utter, confused disbelief.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
It’s over, I signed to Salvatore.
He lowered the binoculars, turning to look at me. The glow of the police lights washed over his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the quiet intensity of his eyes.
For them, yes, he signed. For us, it is just the beginning.
He leaned in closer, his hand reaching up to gently brush a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
I want you to leave Bellamy’s completely behind you, Tessa. I want you to be my partner. In business, and in everything else.
My heart skipped a beat. Your partner? Salvatore, I am just a waitress from the South Side.
You are the woman who heard me when the rest of the world chose to be deaf, he signed, his movements slow, deliberate, and incredibly tender. You are the only person I trust. Stay with me.
May you like
I looked into his eyes, seeing the vulnerability he hid so well from the rest of the world.
I will stay, I signed back.
