Chapter 14 - Silence in the Dark
In the pitch-black switching yard, Rossi’s men panicked, their flashlights cutting erratic beams through the thick night fog. But Salvatore’s team had trained for total sensory deprivation. They didn't need light to navigate the terrain.
Faint grunts, the dull thud of heavy boots hitting gravel, and the clatter of dropped firearms echoed through the damp air.
I kept my eyes glued to the thermal scope on the observation deck. On screen, I watched Salvatore move through the chaos with terrifying grace. He didn't use a gun. He disarmed Rossi’s lead enforcer with a swift, brutal sweep of his leg, pinned him to the ballast, and moved instantly toward Rossi’s position by the locomotive engine.
Within ninety seconds, the yard went completely silent.
The emergency backup lights flickered back on, casting a harsh white glare over the tracks.
Rossi was on his knees, his expensive suit stained with engine grease, his arms twisted behind him in Marcus’s iron grip.
Salvatore stood over him, breathing evenly, his expression completely blank. He raised his hands one last time.
Go back to New York, Rossi. Tell your bosses that Chicago belongs to the people who actually live here.
May you like
And if you ever step foot in my city again, you won't leave in a box.
Rossi choked out a terrified nod, unable to speak. Marcus shoved him toward the open door of a departing freight car, sending the New York syndicate packing with nothing more than bruised ribs and shattered pride.
