Chapter 17
Midnight approached, bringing with it a thick, unnatural fog that rolled off the Long Island Sound and blanketed the sprawling Connecticut grounds. The estate was locked down tighter than a vault. Every light in the mansion was extinguished. The grand foyer, usually illuminated by brilliant crystal chandeliers, was completely pitch-black.
Adrian stood near the secluded boathouse, surrounded by thirty of his most seasoned enforcers in tailored dark tactical gear. Marcus stood at his right side, holding a suppressed assault rifle.
"Thermal optics detect multiple watercraft approaching the private docks, Boss," Marcus whispered through the comms. "They are cutting the engines. They plan to slip in quietly."
"Let them land," Adrian commanded coldly. He wore his tailored black trousers and a tactical vest over his black dress shirt, his heavy platinum wristwatch gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
Silently, heavily armed mercenaries from the Chicago Commission disembarked onto the wet wooden docks. They moved like shadows, their weapons raised, expecting to breach the estate and catch the Cole family sleeping. They believed they were attacking a vulnerable target. They did not realize they were walking into an execution.
Adrian waited until the entirety of the enemy force had crossed the tree line and stepped onto the open manicured lawns.
"Now," Adrian breathed into his radio.
Instantly, the estate's massive industrial floodlights snapped on, bathing the lawns in blinding, uncompromising light. The Chicago mercenaries froze in sheer terror as they found themselves completely surrounded by Adrian’s men.
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"Fire," Adrian ordered.
The night erupted into deafening chaos. The suppressed weapons of the Cole enforcers cut through the enemy ranks with devastating, lethal precision. Adrian moved through the crossfire like a demon rising from the night. He didn't hide behind cover; he advanced with a terrifying, commanding presence, his heavy black handgun barking rhythmically. Every shot he took was a vow fulfilled—a promise to protect the child wearing his oversized black tie.
