Chapter 7 – Retaliation
The smell of blood and gunpowder lingered as Luciano stood over the wreckage of the De Luca-owned nightclub. Shattered glass crunched beneath his polished shoes, while paramedics carried out bodies—some groaning, others already zipped in black bags.
Marco wiped a smear of blood from his temple, his knuckles raw. "It wasn't just an attack. This was a declaration."
Luciano nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "Giovanni wants war. Now he'll get it."
His gaze shifted toward the CCTV footage pulled from the club's hard drives. He watched frame by frame—SUVs rolling up, masked men firing automatic weapons with military precision.
"Russians," Luciano muttered. "Petrov's men."
"And Giovanni's fingerprints are all over it," Marco growled.
Luciano's eyes were ice. "Then we erase them both."
---
A Plan in Motion
Back at the penthouse, Ariana sat at her laptop, fingers dancing furiously across the keyboard. Her once-ordinary job as an accountant now felt like something out of a crime thriller.
"I've traced the payment trail for the mercenaries," she announced as Luciano entered, Marco flanking behind him.
She pointed to the screen. "Offshore funds from Zurich. Giovanni funneled it through a fake shipping company... then paid Petrov's crew."
Luciano stepped closer, reading the data. "Is it traceable?"
"Very." Ariana smirked. "If we leak this to the authorities or the media, both Giovanni and Petrov become radioactive."
Luciano crossed his arms, considering. "No... not yet."
"Why not?" she asked, surprised.
"Because dead men don't care about scandal."
---
An Unexpected Call
Luciano's phone vibrated—an unknown number.
He answered. "Speak."
A distorted voice replied, "Luciano De Luca. You don't know me, but you should. Giovanni made a mistake... and I'm ready to help you bury him."
Luciano's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Because he betrayed the wrong people. Meet me... tonight. The docks. Pier 17. Come alone."
The line went dead.
Marco frowned. "It's a trap."
"Of course it is," Luciano replied, pocketing the phone. "But sometimes... traps are opportunities."
Ariana stood, worried. "You're not really going alone... are you?"
Luciano's gaze softened just slightly. "No. But they don't need to know that."
---
Pier 17 – The Ghost in the Shadows
The night air was cold, laced with salt from the sea. Fog rolled over the dark water as Luciano stepped onto Pier 17, hands in his pockets, coat billowing behind him.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a man, face half-concealed beneath a hood.
"You're brave to come," the stranger said.
"I'm not brave," Luciano replied calmly. "I'm prepared."
The man pulled the hood back, revealing a rugged face with a long scar down his cheek. "Name's Viktor. I used to run logistics for Petrov. Until Giovanni decided he didn't need me anymore."
Luciano tilted his head. "You're offering me something."
"More than something," Viktor sneered. "I have the manifest of their next arms shipment. Their biggest one yet. Giovanni and Petrov are preparing for an all-out assault."
Luciano's eyes darkened. "Where?"
"Warehouse 19. Two nights from now. Everything—guns, explosives, soldiers. Take it... and you cripple their entire operation."
"And what do you want in return?"
Viktor lit a cigarette, blowing smoke into the night. "Revenge. And a ticket out of this cursed city."
Luciano extended his hand. "Done."
---
Checkmate Begins
Back at the war room, Luciano laid out the plan.
"We hit Warehouse 19. Clean. Fast. Total destruction."
Sergio grinned. "I've waited years to burn that place."
"Marco," Luciano continued, "you lead the perimeter team. No one gets in or out."
"Consider it done."
Luciano's gaze finally landed on Ariana, whose expression flickered between fear and determination.
"And you," he said softly, "I need you to monitor the financial side. The moment the warehouse burns... I want every trace of their funds frozen."
Ariana nodded, swallowing hard. "I can do it."
Luciano stepped closer, lowering his voice. "This is dangerous. You don't have to—"
"I want to," she interrupted firmly. "You saved me... now I help save you."
For a moment, the war, the blood, the chaos... all faded. Luciano simply stared at her, realizing that somewhere between enemies and allies, something deeper had started to take root.
"Then let's end this."