Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Rival's Fury
The night was quiet, unnaturally so. Luca stood in the shadows of an abandoned dockyard warehouse, his sharp gaze fixed on the bustling operation before him. Men moved crates filled with smuggled contraband—guns, drugs, and other illegal goods—onto waiting trucks. This shipment was vital for the Moretti Family's expansion, a cornerstone for their dominance over the city's lucrative underground trade.
"Everything's on schedule, boss," Marco reported, his voice steady but low.
Luca nodded but didn't respond. Something felt wrong. The air carried a tension he couldn't ignore. Over the past few weeks, the Viper Syndicate had been regrouping, licking their wounds after the Moretti Family's recent victories. Luca knew they wouldn't stay quiet for long.
As if on cue, the system chimed in his vision, its cold, mechanical text flashing before him.
System Alert: Imminent Attack Detected – Viper Syndicate Retaliation.
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Marco," he said, his voice sharp, "double the perimeter guards. Get the men armed and ready. The Vipers are coming."
Marco frowned. "Are you sure? There hasn't been a peep from them all week."
"Trust me," Luca said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Move. Now."
Marco gave a quick nod and barked orders to the nearest enforcers.
---
The system's tactical interface unfolded in Luca's mind, displaying a three-dimensional map of the dockyard. Red markers indicated the positions of approaching enemy operatives—two groups moving in from opposite sides.
Enemy Strength: 20 Operatives – Light to Heavy Arms.
Friendly Strength: 15 Operatives – Moderate Arms.
Suggested Actions: Fortify Defenses, Ambush Vulnerable Points.
Luca absorbed the information quickly. The odds weren't in their favor, but he'd faced worse before.
He turned to his men, who had gathered around him. "Listen up! The Vipers think they can catch us off guard. We're not going to let that happen. Sal, take three guys and cover the east entrance. Marco, you're with me on the west side. The rest of you, secure the trucks and hold this position. No one gets through. Understood?"
"Yes, boss!" the men answered in unison.
---
The first attack came swiftly. Gunfire erupted from the east as the Vipers launched their assault. Sal and his team returned fire, using the cover of stacked crates and shipping containers.
Luca crouched behind a metal barricade on the west side, his pistol drawn. Marco knelt beside him, a shotgun clutched tightly in his hands.
"They're trying to split us up," Marco muttered.
"They won't succeed," Luca replied coldly.
System Update: Enemy Weak Point Identified – Southern Entrance Vulnerable.
The system's insight was invaluable, pinpointing where the Vipers were most exposed. Luca tapped Marco on the shoulder. "Flank them. Take two men and hit their south entrance. Go now."
Marco nodded and slipped into the shadows with two enforcers.
---
The gunfire intensified as the Vipers pressed their attack. Bullets ricocheted off metal and concrete, filling the air with a deafening cacophony.
Luca remained calm, firing precise shots that took down two Viper operatives. His men held their ground, their loyalty to the Moretti Family unwavering.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the dockyard. One of the trucks went up in flames, sending a plume of smoke into the night sky.
"Boss, they're targeting the shipment!" one of the men shouted.
Luca gritted his teeth. Losing the shipment wasn't an option.
System Alert: Prioritize Protecting Cargo – Deploy Resources Strategically.
"Sal, pull your team back to the trucks! Protect the cargo at all costs!" Luca ordered through his earpiece.
"On it, boss!" Sal replied, his voice strained.
---
Meanwhile, Marco's flanking maneuver paid off. His team ambushed the Vipers at the south entrance, catching them off guard. The sound of close-range gunfire and shouted commands echoed through the dockyard.
Luca kept an eye on the system's tactical display. The red markers began to thin out as the Vipers took heavy losses.
System Update: Enemy Morale Decreasing – Victory Probable.
But the battle wasn't over yet.
---
A sudden burst of gunfire tore through the air, forcing Luca to duck behind cover. A group of Vipers had broken through the western defenses and were heading straight for the trucks.
Luca cursed under his breath. "Tommy, get to high ground and cover the trucks!"
Tommy, the team's sniper, nodded and climbed onto a stack of shipping containers. From his elevated position, he picked off the advancing Vipers with deadly precision.
Luca seized the moment to lead a counterattack, charging forward with a handful of men. His movements were calculated, guided by the system's real-time analysis.
He engaged two Vipers head-on, taking one down with a clean shot to the chest and disarming the other with a swift strike. The fight was brutal and chaotic, but Luca's tactical advantage gave his team the edge they needed.
---
The remaining Vipers began to retreat, their assault crumbling under the Moretti Family's relentless defense.
"Don't let them escape!" Luca shouted.
His men pursued the fleeing enemies, cutting down those who tried to make a last stand. The dockyard fell silent once more, the battle won.
System Update: Mission Complete – Operation Defended.
Casualties: 3 Operatives.
---
Luca stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving as he surveyed the aftermath. The dockyard was littered with bullet casings, bloodstains, and the bodies of fallen enemies.
Marco approached, his face smudged with dirt and sweat. "We held them off, boss. The shipment's safe."
Luca nodded, though his expression remained grim. "We lost three good men tonight. Make sure their families are taken care of."
"You got it," Marco said, his voice heavy with respect.
As the surviving men began to clean up, Luca retreated to a quiet corner of the dockyard. The system's interface appeared before him, delivering its final message.
Reward Unlocked: Tactical Awareness Upgrade.
Luca stared at the notification, his emotions a mix of satisfaction and bitterness. The system's power had saved them tonight, but the cost was undeniable.
Lighting a cigarette, Luca gazed out at the city lights in the distance. This was only the beginning. The Vipers had struck back, but they'd failed to break him.
With the system at his side, Luca vowed to destroy the Viper Syndicate once and for all.