Chapter 16 - The Decoy
The mercenary’s eyes widened in surprise for a fraction of a second, completely confused as to why a cleaning woman was inside the restricted server room.
I did not hesitate, relying entirely on the brutal survival instincts I had honed over the last chaotic year.
I grabbed a heavy can of industrial aerosol disinfectant from my cart and sprayed it directly into his eyes while simultaneously smashing the bottom of the can against his nose.
The mercenary screamed in agony, dropping his rifle as he fell backward into the hallway.
I kicked the heavy steel door shut, locking the deadbolt just as a massive, deafening explosion rocked the entire shipping yard.
Lorenzo had arrived.
The sound of heavy automatic gunfire erupted outside as Lorenzo’s elite enforcers violently smashed through the front gates in armored trucks.
The alarms in the warehouse began screaming, but the security network was entirely blind, throwing Isabella's forces into absolute, uncoordinated chaos.
I abandoned the cleaning cart and sprinted down the back corridors, heading toward the VIP administrative offices on the top floor.
That was the only place Isabella would keep the master ledgers during a hostile corporate takeover.
I moved silently through the shadows, listening to the terrified shouts of mercenaries rushing past me toward the courtyard battle.
I reached the heavy glass doors of the executive suite, drawing the suppressed pistol Lorenzo had given me.
I crept inside the lavishly decorated office, sweeping the corners with my weapon, entirely ready to face the monster who had ruined so many lives.
The office was completely empty, but a massive, heavy iron safe sat wide open behind the mahogany desk.
The master ledgers were gone.
Suddenly, a cold, mocking voice echoed from a small radio sitting on the edge of the desk.
"You really think I would wait around for my arrogant husband to storm the castle, Elena?" Isabella’s voice crackled through the speaker.
My blood ran completely cold as I realized the entire warehouse was nothing but a massive, highly orchestrated trap.
"I transferred the digital ledgers to my private yacht an hour ago," Isabella bragged.
"I left my mercenaries behind to keep Lorenzo busy while I sail away with the Rossi fortune."
I grabbed the radio, my knuckles turning white. "You abandoned your own son for money, Isabella. You are an absolute monster."
Isabella laughed, a chilling, soulless sound that made my stomach turn.
"I can always have another child, Elena. But Lorenzo can never rebuild his precious empire from a prison cell."
"I tipped off the federal authorities. They will be at Pier 4 in ten minutes to arrest Lorenzo and his entire crew for domestic terrorism."
I dropped the radio, absolute panic flooding my veins.
I pressed the button on my earpiece, desperately trying to warn Lorenzo about the impending federal raid.
"Lorenzo! It is a trap, Isabella is on a yacht, and the feds are coming!" I screamed into the microphone.
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Static hissed violently in my ear, the signal completely jammed by a localized frequency blocker.
I was completely cut off, and the man I loved was walking blindly into a permanent federal cage.
