Chapter 8 - The Hostage Trade
I realized Lily had never been a secret to Marco.
He had let Clara live in poverty solely to incubate and protect his son's future heart.
I needed an arsenal of weapons to assault Marco's heavily guarded estate in the Hamptons.
I left Clara and Lily safely locked inside Vance’s underground clinic and went to meet an old mob associate named Rossi.
Rossi operated out of a meatpacking plant and had access to military-grade explosives.
I offered Rossi a twenty percent stake in my company once I killed Marco and reclaimed my throne.
Rossi agreed, handing me two heavy duffel bags filled with assault rifles and tactical gear.
We drank a glass of cheap whiskey to seal the violent pact.
I drove back to the clinic, fully prepared to start a war that would burn the city down.
I opened the heavy steel door to the basement, calling out for Clara.
The clinic was completely empty.
The medical equipment was smashed, and blood smeared the pristine white floor.
Vance was hanging by his neck from a pipe on the ceiling.
My burner phone rang loudly in the silent room.
May you like
I answered it, and Marco's smooth, arrogant voice echoed through the speaker.
He thanked me for leading his trackers right to the clinic, revealing that Rossi had placed a GPS beacon in the weapons bags.
