Chapter 6 - THE GHOSTS OF THE RAIL YARD
~1,100 words
The old Milwaukee railway depot sat at the industrial edge of the city, abandoned twenty years ago and left to rot beneath layers of rust, broken windows, and overgrown weeds. Towering brick smokestacks pierced the grey morning sky like broken fingers, casting long, menacing shadows across the desolate tracks.
The black sedan stopped fifty yards away from the main loading dock.
Luca stepped out first, his long black coat billowing slightly in the biting wind. Two of his most trusted guards stepped out of the car behind him, weapons drawn, but Luca raised a single gloved hand to stop them.
""""Stay with the car,"""" he ordered without looking back. """"If I'm not back in twenty minutes, burn the place down.""""
I watched from the passenger window as Luca walked alone toward the gaping iron doors of the depot. His posture was rigid, his steps deliberate and completely fearless.
The interior of the railway station was cavernous and freezing. Dust motes danced in the pale shafts of sunlight piercing through holes in the corrugated tin roof. Rusted train cars sat on tracks that led nowhere, their metallic hulls covered in faded graffiti.
""""I knew you'd come, Luca,"""" a voice echoed from the shadows above.
Luca stopped dead in his tracks. He tilted his head back, his eyes scanning the rusted metal catwalk running along the upper level of the depot.
A figure stepped out from behind a stack of wooden crates on the walkway. It was Mr. Reynolds. But he didn't look like the polished, well-dressed business partner who had sipped champagne at the engagement table twenty-four hours ago. His hair was disheveled, his expensive tie was loosened, and in his right hand, he held a heavy steel wrench.
""""You look tired, Reynolds,"""" Luca called out, his voice echoing off the concrete walls. """"Must be hard trying to play both sides of a syndicate war.""""
Reynolds let out a harsh, bitter laugh, leaning against the metal railing of the catwalk. """"You think this is a game, Luca? You think because you built an empire on blood and intimidation that you own every piece on the board? You were blind. Vanessa played you from day one, and you walked right into her trap.""""
""""Vanessa didn't have the brains to orchestrate a multi-million-dollar cover-up for six years,"""" Luca replied, taking a slow step forward. """"She was a pawn. Who was pulling her strings?""""
Reynolds smiled—a cruel, jagged expression that didn't reach his eyes. He pointed the heavy wrench down toward the floorboards beneath Luca's feet.
""""Ask the floorboards, Luca. They've been listening to this family's secrets a lot longer than you have.""""
Before Luca could process the warning, a sudden sound echoed from the far corner of the cavernous depot—the distinct click of a shotgun being loaded.
Luca spun around instantly, drawing his weapon just as three masked men stepped out from behind a rusted freight car, their shotguns leveled straight at his chest.
""""Drop the piece, Moretti,"""" the lead gunman sneered.
Luca didn't drop his gun. Instead, a cold, calculating smile touched his lips. """"You boys really think three guns are enough to take me down in my own territory?""""
""""It's not about taking you down,"""" Reynolds shouted from the catwalk above. """"It's about buying time! While you're playing hero here in Milwaukee, your precious estate in Chicago is burning to the ground!""""
Luca's smile vanished. The color drained from his face as the trap finally clicked into place.
""""You bastard,"""" Luca snarled, raising his pistol.
Before he could pull the trigger, Reynolds struck the metal railing with his wrench, sending a deafening metallic clang echoing through the depot, and turned to sprint down the back stairs of the catwalk.
The three masked men opened fire.
Wood splinters exploded from the freight car beside Luca as he dove behind a concrete pillar, returning fire with deadly, clinical precision. Two of the gunmen dropped instantly, their weapons clattering against the concrete, while the third scrambled back toward the shadows of the loading dock.
Luca didn't chase him. He sprinted toward the exit, pulling out his satellite phone as he hit the gravel outside.
""""Secure the perimeter! Get me a chopper to Chicago right now!"""" he roared into the phone.
I was already waiting by the open door of the sedan as Luca sprinted across the yard, his face carved from stone and absolute fury.
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""""What happened?"""" I asked, my voice shaking as he jumped into the driver's seat and threw the car into reverse with squealing tires.
""""They hit the estate,"""" Luca said, his voice terrifyingly quiet as he slammed the accelerator down and we rocketed away from the rail yard. """"They went after Leo's mother.""""
