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Marco’s heavy coat absorbed the damp chill of the hallway on the second floor of Callaway Street. The building smelled of old grease, boiled cabbage, and peeling paint. Down the hall, a flickering fluorescent bulb buzzed like a trapped hornet. / Chapter 4 / 8

Chapter 4 - AMBUSH AT THE DOCKS

Marco didn't hesitate. He rushed back to the table, grabbed Jenny’s arm, and pulled her toward the rear exit of the restaurant.

"Marco? What's going on?" she asked, her heart racing as she felt the sudden surge of tension radiating from him.

"We have to move. Now," he commanded.

They burst out into the alleyway just as two black SUVs screeched to a halt at the entrance, blocking the street. Men in dark jackets stepped out, drawing weapons.

"Vitelli!" one of the shooters yelled. "Moretti sends his regards!"

Muzzle flashes illuminated the dark alley. The sharp crack-crack-crack of gunfire echoed off the brick walls.

Marco immediately tackled Jenny to the ground behind a heavy steel dumpster, using his own body as a shield. Bullets whined off the metal above their heads, showering them with sparks and concrete dust.

Jenny screamed, pressing her face into Marco’s chest. The scent of rain, expensive cologne, and iron filled her senses.

Marco pulled a sleek black pistol from inside his jacket. With icy precision, he leaned out from behind the dumpster, fired three controlled shots, and dropped the lead shooter.

"Keep your head down!" Marco shouted to Jenny over the deafening noise.

"Toby!" Jenny gasped, panic tearing through her voice. "Is Toby safe? They were going to my apartment!"

"Leo is already at your sister's house," Marco reassured her, his voice absolute and calm amidst the chaos. "Your son is safe. But you are with me now."

A second SUV rounded the corner, attempting to pin them down, but Leo arrived with three Vitelli cars behind them. A fierce gun battle erupted in the narrow alley. Marco grabbed Jenny by the wrist, pulling her toward his armored sedan as his men provided suppressive fire.

He shoved her into the back seat, slammed the door, and slid into the driver's seat, flooring the accelerator. The heavy car smashed through the barrier SUV, tires screaming as they tore out onto the main highway.

Jenny looked out the rear window, her hands trembling violently. "They tried to kill us... They tried to kill me!"

"They tried to hit me through you," Marco corrected, his knuckles white on the steering wheel as he sped through the rain-slicked streets. "Because I let them see that I care about what happens to you."

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Jenny stared at him in disbelief. "You barely know me!"

"I know enough," Marco said, his eyes reflecting the red glow of the dashboard lights. "And now, until this war is finished, you and your son are coming with me to my estate."

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