Chapter 5 - The Battle of Newark Docks
The rain fell in sheets over the industrial graveyard of Newark.
Massive rusted iron structures loomed out of the darkness like ancient, dead leviathans. The chemical processing plant had been abandoned for twenty years, its cracked pavement overgrown with weeds and littered with shipping containers.
Four blacked-out Valenti armored vehicles glided silently through the rear gates of the facility, their headlights off.
Inside the primary command truck, Elena watched a bank of thermal camera screens showing the outlines of heavily armed guards patrolling the roof and perimeter of the main warehouse.
Beside her, Adrian checked the clip of his weapon with practiced, terrifying precision.
"They have snipers on the water tower," Marcus reported from the driver’s seat.
"Eliminate them silently," Adrian instructed through his headset. "Alpha team takes the west catwalks. Bravo team hits the main garage doors on my mark. Nobody shoots unless they have a clear visual of the child. I want Dominic Moretti alive until I personally cut his throat."
Outside, shadow figures moved through the rain with lethal efficiency. Within two minutes, the soft thud-thud of silenced rifles echoed quietly through the storm as the Moretti snipers dropped from the water tower into the dark waters below.
"Alpha team in position," a voice crackled through Adrian’s earpiece.
"Bravo team ready."
Adrian turned to Elena. He reached out and gently laid his hand on her shoulder. "Stay inside this truck, no matter what you hear. Marcus will guard you."
"Bring my baby back, Adrian," Elena whispered, her voice trembling.
"I will," Adrian swore.
He stepped out into the pouring rain, pulling his tactical mask up over his mouth and nose. Rex leaped out of the truck behind him, his dark coat gleaming in the rain, looking like a demonic hound born from the shadows.
"Go," Adrian commanded.
BOOM!
A explosive breaching charge blew the heavy steel doors of the warehouse completely off their hinges, sending fire and metal shrapnel flying into the dark interior.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Automatic gunfire shattered the night. Bright muzzle flashes illuminated the dusty, towering steel girders of the warehouse interior.
Adrian moved through the smoke like a ghost of death. His weapon barked with terrifying accuracy—every shot fired was calculated, lethal, and unyielding. Beside him, Rex was a blur of pure muscle and fury, leaping over crate barricades and taking down Moretti enforcers before they could even draw their sidearms.
"Where is he?!" Adrian roared over the sound of screaming men and gunfire, grabbing a wounded Moretti capo by his vest and slamming him against a concrete pillar. "Where is the girl?!"
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"Top... top floor... office!" the capo choked out, blood dripping from his mouth. "Dominic... he’s got her up there!"
Adrian tossed the man aside like garbage and charged up the rusty iron staircase, his heart pounding in his chest—not out of fear for himself, but out of an agonizing, frantic need to protect the little girl who had called him 'Mr. Coffee'.
