Chapter 5 - The Ghost in the Shadows
The narrow smuggling tunnel smelled strongly of rotting seaweed and ancient, flaking rust.
Dominic led the way confidently, his flashlight cutting a sharp path through the oppressive darkness.
Norah followed closely behind him, her cheap sneakers slipping dangerously on the slick, moss-covered stones.
"My father originally built these tunnels during Prohibition," Dominic whispered without turning around.
"They lead directly into the basement of the main commercial shipping office."
"That is exactly where they will be holding her hostage."
They eventually reached a rusted iron ladder that shook violently under their combined weight.
Dominic slowly pushed open a heavy wooden trapdoor above them.
They emerged silently into a cavernous, dimly lit storage basement.
Massive wooden crates were stacked ten feet high, creating a confusing maze of deep shadows.
They moved silently through the narrow aisles, following the faint, heartbreaking sound of someone weeping.
They found Lily tied tightly to a chair in the center of a small, open clearing.
She was entirely alone.
There were no corrupt police officers guarding her.
There were no cartel hitmen lurking in the corners.
"Lily," Norah breathed, rushing forward without thinking.
She dropped to her knees and began frantically untying the thick ropes binding the young girl's wrists.
Lily looked up, her eyes wide and entirely vacant with shock.
She wasn't looking at Norah.
She was staring over Norah's shoulder, directly at Dominic.
"He told me you would come," Lily whispered, her voice completely devoid of emotion.
Dominic instantly raised his weapon and spun around, rapidly sweeping the shadows.
"Who told you?" Dominic demanded loudly.
A slow, mocking round of applause echoed from the top of a nearby metal staircase.
A man stepped casually out of the darkness, wearing a tailored black suit identical to Dominic's.
He had the exact same dark hair, the same sharp jaw, and the same terrifyingly cold gray eyes.
The only difference was a jagged, silver scar running completely down the left side of his face.
Dominic froze entirely, his gun hand dropping a fraction of an inch in pure shock.
"Silas," Dominic breathed, his voice cracking with impossible disbelief.
Norah looked back and forth rapidly between the two identical men.
"Who is that?" she asked, instinctively pulling Lily behind her for protection.
"My younger brother," Dominic answered, never taking his eyes off the scarred man on the stairs.
"The brother I buried in a closed casket five years ago."
Silas smiled, and the thick scar twisted his handsome face into a demonic mask.
"Hello, Dom."
"I hear you have been having some serious trouble with your lovely fiancée recently."
Before Dominic could fire, three heavily armed men stepped out from behind the surrounding crates.
They aimed military-grade assault rifles directly at Norah and Lily.
Silas descended the stairs slowly, his hands casually resting in his pockets.
May you like
"Put the gun down, big brother," Silas ordered cheerfully.
"Or I will happily paint this basement with your favorite waitress."
