Chapter 8 - the confrontation at the docks
By the following afternoon, the storm over Manhattan had cleared, leaving a crisp, cold blue sky over the Hudson River.
Dominic stood near the edge of Pier 17, dressed in a long dark trench coat over his black suit. Flanked by Marcus and eight of his elite security operatives, Dominic looked like a shadow ruling the waterfront.
Standing fifty yards away across the wooden dock was Agent Richard Vance—the corrupt senior officer who had orchestrated Daniel Carter's fatal accident three years ago, accompanied by six armed men in plain tactical gear.
"You should have stayed out of this, Moretti!" Vance called out, his voice sharp over the cold river wind. "Daniel Carter stole agency files before he died! Files that belong to federal intelligence! Hand over his wife and the flash drive, and we walk away!"
Dominic took three slow, deliberate steps forward, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the pier. His dark eyes were devoid of fear—only filled with an absolute, terrifying dominance.
"Daniel Carter died an honorable man," Dominic declared, his deep voice carrying across the water like thunder. "He died protecting his family from scum like you."
"He was a rogue agent!" Vance spat bitterly, reaching into his coat. "And his family is an loose end!"
Before Vance’s hand could clear his holster, Dominic raised a single finger.
From the surrounding shipping containers and roof lines, twenty red laser sights suddenly painted the chests of Vance and his tactical team. Elite snipers from the Moretti syndicate held every angle of the pier in total lockdown.
Vance froze, his face going completely pale as he realized he had walked straight into an inescapable trap.
"Drop your weapons," Dominic commanded flatly.
One by one, Vance’s men unbuckled their holsters, letting their sidearms clatter onto the wooden planks of the dock.
"You think you can fight federal authority, Moretti?" Vance sneered through trembling lips.
"You aren't federal authority, Vance," Dominic said smoothly, pulling a crisp folder from his coat pocket and tossing it at Vance's feet. "Those are direct arrest warrants issued by the Department of Justice. My legal team handed over the contents of Daniel's flash drive to the Attorney General two hours ago. Your career... and your life... are over."
May you like
Federal law enforcement vehicles, sirens wailing, poured onto the pier from the main avenue, surrounding Vance and his men within seconds.
Dominic turned his back on the arrest, stepping smoothly into his waiting sedan without looking back once.
