Chapter 9 - The Final Showdown
Smoke billowed through the warehouse as Salvatore Moretti stepped through the ruined doorway, flanked by his elite mercenaries. But they weren't aiming their guns at Dante. To Claire’s utter horror, Salvatore lowered his cane and walked straight toward her, bowing his head respectfully.
"Well done, Claire," Salvatore said smoothly, a cold grin spreading across his aged face. "You delivered the Moretti empire right into our hands."
Claire stared at Salvatore, then slowly turned her head back toward Dante.
Dante wasn't reaching for his gun. He was standing completely relaxed, arms crossed over his chest, watching the scene unfold with absolute amusement.
"You... you knew?" Salvatore snarled, turning his gaze toward his nephew. "You knew she was a plant all along?"
"From the very first minute," Dante replied calmly, walking over to pour himself a glass of whiskey from the bar cart. "A professional cleaner doesn't leave hospital receipts in the communal staff room trash bin, Salvatore. And a three-year-old doesn't spontaneously sketch thermal detonators unless someone with a military demolition background trained her to recognize chassis layouts."
Salvatore’s face twisted in rage. He raised his pistol, aiming directly at Dante’s chest. "It doesn't matter! Even if you knew, you're outnumbered ten to one. Kill him!"
The mercenaries raised their weapons, preparing to open fire.
Dante didn't flinch. He simply took a slow sip of his whiskey and smiled. "You really think I brought my most valuable assets to an abandoned warehouse without preparing a welcoming party, Uncle?"
Suddenly, the red laser sights of dozens of sniper rifles appeared across the chests of Salvatore’s mercenaries, streaming down from the high rafters and shattered skylights above.
"Drop your weapons," a dozen cold voices echoed from the shadows of the ceiling.
May you like
Salvatore froze, his finger trembling on the trigger. "This... this is impossible. We jammed your communications!"
"You jammed the local frequencies," Dante corrected, stepping forward as his elite private army closed in from every corner of the warehouse, disarming Salvatore’s men in seconds. "You forgot that my security network operates on quantum-encrypted satellite relays that your Russian friends couldn't hack in a hundred lifetimes."
