2025-05-31 22:31:33
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Chapter 39: Trap Sprung
Pier 7 stank of rotting fish and diesel fuel. Santino parked two blocks away, approaching on foot through the maze of shipping containers. His Glock pressed reassuringly against his ribs.The warehouse stood dark against the lake, its broken windows like dead eyes. A single light burned in the office section.He found Léon tied to a chair, blood crusted around his split lip. Two men flanked him; they were professionals judging by their stance, cheap muscle by their clothes."Took you long enough," the taller one said. He had a Marseille accent and scars on his knuckles. "Your boy here's been telling us stories."Santino kept his hands visible. "What do you want?""Straight to business. I like that." Scar-knuckles smiled. "We want you to kill your boss.""Which one?""Don't play stupid. The old man. El Amore."Léon raised his head with effort. "Boss, don't"The shorter man backhanded him as Léon's chair rocked but didn't tip."Here's the situation," Scar-knuckles continued. "My employ
Chapter 38: Hacker's Bond
The Geneva safehouse smelled like burnt coffee and old cigarettes. Santino watched Zara's fingers dance across three keyboards, screens reflecting in her dark eyes like electric storms.“This code is harder than my grandma’s chin chin. Who made this? Lucifer?”"You never sleep," he said, setting a fresh cup beside her elbow."Sleep is for people without enemies." She took the coffee without looking away from the scrolling code. "You want to hear something funny?""Try me.""I was seventeen when I first hacked a bank. Johannesburg Commercial. I thought I was Robin Hood." She laughed, but it held no humor. "Stole from the rich, give to the poor. I mostly gave it to myself."Santino pulled up a chair. The safehouse was quiet except for the hum of electronics and distant traffic. Outside, Geneva slept peacefully, unaware of the digital war being fought in this cramped room."What happened?""Got caught. Not by the bank but by someone bigger. They offered me a choice: prison or work for th
Chapter 37: The Key
The key. Ben's key. Santino's hand went to his pocket automatically.Viktor noticed. "Good. You do have it.""Even if I did, why would I trust you?""Because the alternative is worse.""What alternative?""El Amore's civil war."Santino frowned. "What civil war?""You really don't know? El Amore is dying. Pancreatic cancer. Six months, maybe less."The news hit like a physical blow."And when he dies, there will be a power struggle. Mia. Salvatore. Others you haven't met. All fighting for control.""Let them fight.""You don't understand. This isn't just about drugs or territory. This is about a network that spans continents. If it falls apart chaotically, a lot of people die. Innocent people."Viktor stood up. "Ben knew this day would come. That's why he hid something. Insurance.""What kind of insurance?""Names. Operations. Bank accounts. Everything needed to either preserve the network or destroy it cleanly.""And you think I know where it is?""I think Ben was smarter than we gav
Chapter 36: Fractured Family
The church was the same one from the night before with empty pews. Flickering candles. The smell of old incense.Santino knelt in the front row. His mother's blood was still on his hands. Literally.He'd tried to wash it off in the hospital bathroom. But some stains don't come out.Three shots. He'd heard three shots. But he didn't know who fired them. Or who had fallen.The police weren't talking. The hospital was sealed off. No information.Zara found him there an hour later. "I've been looking everywhere for you," she said."Any word?"She sat beside him. "The official report says a patient had a psychotic episode. Shot two security guards before being subdued.""And my mother?""Critical condition. That's all they'll say."Santino stared at the altar. The cross. The promise of redemption. He'd never been religious. But right now, he needed something to believe in."There's more," Zara said quietly."Tell me.""I ran facial recognition on Marcus Durand. The man who came to see you
Chapter 35: Mother's Light
Santino woke up in a hospital bed with White walls. White sheets and the smell of antiseptic. His head felt like someone had hit it with a hammer."You're awake." A woman's voice that was familiar sounded beside him. He turned his head as Zara sat in a chair beside the bed. Bandages on her arms with a cut on her forehead."How long?" he asked."Six hours. The doctors said you had a concussion." Santino tried to sit up as pain shot through his ribs."Don't move. You've got three broken ribs and a punctured lung.""The building?""Gone. Just like your penthouse.""Casualties?" Zara's face darkened. "My grandmother was visiting her sister. But the family downstairs..." She trailed off.Santino closed his eyes. More innocent blood on his hands."I'm sorry.""It's not your fault.""Isn't it?"A nurse came in to check his vitals and adjusted his IV drip."The police want to talk to you," she said. "I told them you weren't ready."After she left, Zara leaned closer. "We need to leave. Ton
Chapter 34: Warning Note
The penthouse was gone as Santino stood across the street. Fire trucks. Police cars. Ambulances. Red and blue lights painted the building.The home he got recently reduced to rubble and smoke."How bad?" he asked. Zara stood beside him. Her laptop bag over her shoulder. Always ready to run."Top two floors. Completely destroyed.""Anyone hurt?""The doorman. Pierre. He's in surgery."Santino's jaw tightened. Pierre had worked there for years. Had grandchildren. "Professional job," Zara continued. "Whoever did this knew what they were doing." A paramedic walked past. Blood on his uniform. "Did they find anything?" Santino asked."That's why I called you."Zara pulled out her phone. “Look at this,” she said, showing Santino a photo. “It was taken inside the building. Before the explosion.”In the photo, a white envelope. His name is written in elegant script. Santino narrowed his eyes. “Where was it?”“Your mailbox. Delivered this morning.”He took a closer look. The handwriting… it f
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