Chapter 4 - The Hunt Begins
The night turned into a nightmare for every illegal operation in the tri-state area.
Aleandro Moretti unleashed his entire network. Speakeasies were raided, warehouses were breached, and Venturi associates were dragged from their beds into dark alleys for questioning. The city’s underground shook under the weight of Aleandro’s fury.
By 3:00 AM, inside a deserted shipyard in New Jersey, Aleandro stood over Viktor Venturi’s right-hand man, a thug named Dominic, who was tied to a chair, bleeding and breathless.
"I will only ask you once more, Dominic," Aleandro said smoothly, stepping out of the shadows. He wasn't yelling; his calm demeanor was far more terrifying. "Where is Viktor keeping the child?"
"I don't know, man! I swear!" Dominic screamed, his eyes wild with fear. "Viktor planned this off the books! He didn't tell the captains! He took her to an old location, somewhere near the coast! That's all I know!"
Marco stepped forward, holding a tablet showing property records. "Boss, Viktor’s family owned an abandoned lighthouse and cannery down near Staten Island. It was seized by the bank five years ago, but the Venturis still use the docks."
Aleandro checked his timepiece. "Assemble the strike team. No police. No delays."
"Aleandro," Marco hesitated. "Viktor knows you're coming. This is a trap. He wants you there."
"I know," Aleandro replied, racking the slide of his custom firearm. "He thinks he's baiting a trap for a man who has something to lose. He doesn't realize that if anything happens to that child, I have nothing left to live for—which makes me the most dangerous man he will ever face."
Meanwhile, inside the cold, damp basement of the Staten Island cannery, three-year-old Annie sat on a rusted folding chair. Her hands were free, but the room was dark and smelled of salt and rust.
Viktor Venturi sat across from her, chewing on an unlit cigar, watching her intently.
"Aren't you scared, little girl?" Viktor asked, leaning forward, trying to intimidate her.
Annie looked at him. Her face was smudged with dirt, and her shoes were still damp from the rain, but she didn't cry. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her tiny, wet red plastic bag from the pharmacy, holding it tight against her chest.
"Just Aleandro is coming," Annie said firmly, her voice clear despite her small size.
Viktor laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Just Aleandro? Is that what you call him? Kid, that man is a monster. He’s the reason your mother is buried in the dirt."
Annie shook her head, her dark eyes shining with absolute stubborn trust. "He gave me his big coat. He helped my Grandma breathe. He is not a monster. He has Monster in his pocket."
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Viktor frowned, annoyed by her calmness. "We’ll see how brave he is when I put a bullet in his head in front of you."
Suddenly, the heavy iron door at the top of the stairs blew inward with a deafening explosion.
