Chapter 8 - THE RECKONING AT ROUTE 9The SUV tore down the winding mountain road, tires chewing through gravel and mud. But as they approached the intersection of Route 9, two black unmarked sedans blocked the exit, their high beams blindingly bright in the mist.
Viktor Moretti stood in the middle of the road, holding a heavy-caliber pistol, flanked by four armed enforcers.
Natalie’s breath caught in her throat. “Dante, they’re blocking the road!”
Dante’s face hardened into a mask of pure, absolute ruthlessness. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.
“Hold your head down, Natalie. Cover Liam,” Dante commanded, his voice dropping into the tone of a syndicate king.
“What are you doing? There are too many of them!” Natalie cried out.
“I’m taking my road back,” Dante said coldly.
He slammed his foot flat onto the accelerator. The heavy armored SUV roared like a wounded beast, surging forward at breakneck speed.
Viktor’s eyes widened in horror as the massive vehicle bore down on him. The enforcers opened fire, a torrent of bullets pinging harmlessly off the reinforced windshield and armored body panels of the Escalade, sending a shower of sparks into the night air.
Viktor leaped out of the way just a fraction of a second too late as the SUV plowed directly through the two blockade sedans with a deafening crash of crumpling metal and shattering glass, sending the police cruisers spinning off into the ditch.
Dante drifted the heavy SUV onto the paved highway, shifting gears seamlessly as they rocketed away from the mountain into the safety of the dawn light.
Inside the quiet cabin of the vehicle, the only sound was the heavy breathing of the engine and Liam softly murmuring in the back seat, having finally drifted back to sleep against his stuffed bear.
Natalie slumped back against the passenger seat, her hands still trembling, adrenaline slowly draining from her system. She looked over at Dante. Blood was seeping through his shirt again, staining the leather upholstery, but he kept his eyes locked firmly on the road ahead.
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“You’re bleeding,” Natalie said softly, her ER nurse instincts overriding everything else.
“I’ll live,” Dante replied, his voice softening just a fraction as he glanced over at her. “Because of you. And Goliath.”
