CHAPTER 9 — The Devil Returns from the Dead
Three months passed.
The world believed Vincenzo Moretti was dead.
His empire had collapsed.
His casinos were seized.
His warehouses stood empty.
His enemies celebrated.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
Deep inside the Canadian mountains, Vincenzo trained every day.
Not to reclaim power.
Not to rebuild the mafia.
But to hunt one man.
Alessandro DeLuca.
The satellite phone rang again.
Marco answered immediately.
"I found him."
Vincenzo looked up.
"Where?"
Marco placed a file on the table.
"It's an orphanage."
Vincenzo frowned.
"An orphanage?"
Marco nodded.
"On the surface."
"But underground..."
"...it's an auction."
Silence filled the cabin.
Photos spread across the table.
Luxury cars arriving at midnight.
Private jets landing nearby.
Corrupt politicians.
Arms dealers.
Billionaires.
All entering the same building.
According to the intelligence report, kidnapped children were secretly sold to the highest bidder.
The orphanage was only a disguise.
Vincenzo's eyes darkened.
"How many children?"
Marco took a deep breath.
"Forty-two."
Vincenzo closed the file.
"No police."
"No negotiations."
"We end this tonight."
That evening...
A violent thunderstorm covered the city.
Black-clad figures silently surrounded the massive orphanage.
Former mafia soldiers.
Former enemies.
Former mercenaries.
Men who had once fought each other...
Now united to save innocent lives.
Marco whispered through the radio.
"Perimeter secured."
"Snipers ready."
"Hackers inside the cameras."
Vincenzo looked toward the building.
"No guns unless absolutely necessary."
"We're here for the children."
Everyone nodded.
For the first time in their lives...
They were entering a battle with one purpose—
To protect.
Not destroy.
Inside the basement...
Forty-two frightened children sat behind steel bars.
Among them was a little girl no older than six.
She quietly asked Ethan,
"Do you think anyone is coming?"
Ethan smiled.
"I know someone."
"He always comes."
Suddenly...
The lights went out.
The heavy steel doors exploded inward.
Smoke filled the corridors.
Masked guards shouted in panic.
Through the smoke...
A deep voice echoed.
"Children..."
"...close your eyes."
One by one...
The guards fell.
Not dead.
Only unconscious.
Within minutes, every cage was broken open.
The children rushed into the rescuers' arms.
But then...
Slow, confident applause echoed from the darkness.
Alessandro stepped forward.
"You've changed, Vincenzo."
"You no longer kill."
Vincenzo calmly faced him.
"No."
"I no longer need to."
Alessandro smiled.
"You think you've already won?"
He pressed a small remote control.
Nothing happened.
He pressed it again.
Still nothing.
His smile disappeared.
Marco held up an identical remote.
"Looking for this?"
Behind him stood the nurse from St. Gabriel Hospital.
She smiled.
"I've been working for you for six years..."
"...but I was working for justice."
Alessandro's face turned pale.
May you like
For the first time...
He realized he had lost.
