Chapter 9 - the tribunal trap
The blinding floodlights exploded across the courtyard, plunging the mercenary assault team into total chaos.
Dominic didn't waste a second. He yanked Marcus in front of him as a human shield, ducking behind the heavy stone fountain as Leo fired three frantic shots that shattered against the marble water basin.
"Mateo! Lockdown sequence alpha!" Dominic barked into his comms.
Heavy iron security grates slammed shut across every exit of the estate grounds, trapping Vivienne, Marcus, Leo, and their remaining mercenaries inside the enclosed stone courtyard.
Valenti and Bellacorte tactical guards poured out from the upper balconies, weapons raised, completely surrounding the trapped attackers from above.
"Drop your weapons!" Mateo's voice boomed over the estate loudspeakers. "Drop them now!"
The remaining eight mercenaries threw their rifles onto the wet grass, raising their hands in surrender.
Marcus fell to his knees on the concrete, gasping for breath, his hands tied behind his back by Mateo. Vivienne stood frozen under the blinding lights, her crimson dress stained with mud, her cold arrogance finally collapsing into pure rage.
Leo stood in the center of the courtyard, his silver pistol resting loosely in his hand. He looked up at the balcony lined with armed men, then looked back at Dominic, who walked slowly toward him through the settling smoke.
"It's over, Leo," Dominic said quietly, stopping three feet away.
Leo let out a dry, bitter laugh, lowering his gun to his side. "You think this is over because you trapped us in your garden, Dominic? The Commission in Manhattan is meeting right now. Don Victor Moretti is presenting the signed asset transfer papers to the five family bosses as we speak."
Dominic’s jaw set into granite. "What asset transfer papers?"
"The papers Marcus signed three hours ago," Leo revealed, a dark smile touching his lips. "Selling sixty percent of your New York docks to Moretti. Under syndicate law, if the Commission approves the transfer before sunrise, your title as Don is legally revoked."
Dominic looked at his watch. It was 3:45 AM. Sunrise was at six o'clock.
"Mateo," Dominic commanded, turning on his heel. "Put Marcus and Vivienne in federal transport vans and hand them over to the District Attorney's office. Let the law tear their family apart."
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"And what about Leo, Boss?" Mateo asked, aiming his rifle at Leo's chest.
Dominic looked at the man he had called his brother for thirty years. "Bring him with us. We're going to the Commission tribunal in Lower Manhattan."
