Chapter 10 - The False Victory
The docks descended into a chaotic frenzy of shouting and securing the perimeter.
Vincent stepped cleanly over Marcone's writhing body and grabbed Fay tightly by the arm.
He shielded her from the gruesome aftermath and guided her quickly back to the armored SUV.
Fay’s mother was detained by Vincent’s men and placed into the back of a separate security vehicle, still sobbing her fake tears of surrender.
They drove away from the shipyard and headed directly to Vincent's impenetrable, high-rise penthouse in the center of the city.
The luxurious apartment was a fortress of bulletproof glass, biometric locks, and heavily armed guards.
Vincent poured Fay a glass of water and handed it to her trembling hands in the living room.
"It is over, Fay," Vincent promised gently, sitting on the edge of the glass coffee table in front of her.
"Marcone is finished, your mother is safely locked in the guest wing, and absolutely no one can hurt you here."
Fay took a slow sip of the water, the overwhelming exhaustion finally catching up to her.
She looked at the man who had just dismantled an entire rival syndicate to keep her safe.
For the first time in her life, she felt a profound, undeniable sense of total security.
She offered Vincent a tired, genuine smile of gratitude.
"I should go check on her," Fay whispered, still grappling with the complex emotions regarding her mother's betrayal.
Vincent nodded respectfully and remained in the living room to make a phone call to his lieutenants.
Fay walked softly down the plush, carpeted hallway toward the heavily secured guest bedroom.
She reached for the brass doorknob, intending to ask her mother why she had lied for so many years.
The door was cracked open just a fraction of an inch.
Fay paused as she heard her mother’s voice murmuring from the shadows of the room.
She peered through the narrow crack and saw her mother standing by the window, holding a smuggled burner phone.
May you like
"Yes, the fake surrender worked flawlessly, and Vincent trusts the girl completely now," her mother whispered into the phone with a ruthless, triumphant smile.
"Arm the explosive under his personal car tonight; I will make sure my stupid daughter gets in the vehicle with him tomorrow morning."
