Chapter 2 - The Silence in the GarageThe cool concrete air of the underground garage felt like a tomb.
Lorenzo Duca stood completely motionless behind the massive stone pillar, his breath regulated, his hand resting instinctively on the custom-fitted Beretta concealed beneath his suit jacket. Beside him, little Emma buried her face in the fold of Sophia’s apron, her tiny shoulders trembling as the reality of the danger began to settle in.
Sophia’s face was bloodless. She looked up at Lorenzo, her eyes wide with unexpressed terror. They’re inside the inner perimeter, her look seemed to say. They knew your schedule.
Ten feet away, the fake driver adjusted Enzo’s black cap, pulling the brim low over his forehead. He didn't look at the unconscious Enzo slumped against the workshop bench. Instead, he smoothly opened the rear door of the black Mercedes, checked the interior, and closed it with a soft, muted click.
Then, he turned toward the courtyard exit where Marco Rizzo was waiting.
Lorenzo’s dark eyes narrowed to slits.
Marco had handpicked Enzo. Marco managed the garage schedules. Marco was the only man in the entire syndicate outside of Lorenzo himself who knew that today’s route would take them through the eastern tunnel—the exact stretch of highway where city maintenance had supposedly "shut down" the security cameras for scheduled electrical upgrades.
Scheduled by whom? Lorenzo thought, a cold, lethal fury washing away every trace of hesitation.
The fake driver pulled out a burner phone, tapped a quick text message, and held it up. Through the glass windshield, Lorenzo watched the phone in Marco’s hand light up out in the courtyard.
May you like
Marco read the text, glanced at his watch, and called out, “Boss! We’re losing our window! If we don’t leave now, the senate delegation will start without us!”
Lorenzo didn't answer. He slowly stepped out from behind the pillar.
