Chapter 15 - The Cove of Skulls
The private cove at the edge of the Moretti estate was a jagged gash of black volcanic rock where the relentless waves of the Mediterranean smashed against the cliffs. A rusted iron staircase led down the sheer drop to a hidden concrete pier where Lorenzo kept his high-speed interceptor boats.
At the bottom of the stairs, the rain hissed against the wet stones.
Dr. Althaus stood near the edge of the pier, clutching a terrified, sobbing Lily against his chest with one arm, while holding a compact submachine gun with the other. A sleek, black twin-engine speedboat idled against the tires of the dock, its exhaust roaring over the sound of the crashing surf. Standing at the helm of the boat was Julian Moretti—older, his face scarred by an old shrapnel wound, wearing a smug, triumphant grin as he watched Lorenzo descend the cliffside steps.
"Stop right there, cousin!" Julian shouted over the roar of the engine, raising his own weapon and pointing it unsteadily in Lorenzo's direction. "One more step, and the little brat takes a swim with her pockets full of concrete!"
Lorenzo froze at the midpoint of the stairs. His hands were empty, his Sig Sauer holstered, but his entire posture radiated a terrifying, coiled energy ready to snap.
"Let the child go, Julian," Lorenzo said, his voice cutting through the gale-force wind with absolute clarity. "This is between you and me. The feud is ours."
"Oh, no, cousin," Julian laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and manic. "This isn't just about the throne anymore. You broke the cardinal rule. You fell in love with a ghost, and you birthed a weakness. A syndicate cannot be run by a man with a heart."
Clara appeared at the top of the stairs behind Lorenzo, weaponless, her eyes locked entirely on her daughter. "Althaus! Please! She's just a baby! She doesn't know anything about ledgers or syndicates! Take me instead!"
Althaus sneered, tightening his grip around Lily’s waist. The little girl was screaming now, her tiny voice piercing through the storm. "Shut up, woman! You should have stayed dead in the west wing!"
"Mama!" Lily shrieked, reaching her small arms out toward the cliff.
Something inside Lorenzo snapped. The cold, calculated mafia boss evaporated instantly, leaving only a father driven by primal, incandescent rage. He didn't wait for negotiations. He didn't wait for an opening.
Lorenzo lunged forward, launching himself off the metal staircase directly into empty air.
Althaus panicked, raising his weapon to fire.
Crack.
May you like
A deafening gunshot echoed off the canyon walls—not from Lorenzo, but from the cliff above. Marco stood at the edge, his sniper rifle smoking, a precise, calculated round striking Althaus directly in the shoulder. The medic shrieked in agony, his grip on the weapon loosening as he stumbled backward.
Before Althaus could recover, Lorenzo hit the concrete pier with the force of a freight train, slamming directly into the doctor and sending both of them tumbling over the edge of the dock into the churning, freezing black water below.
