Chapter 8 - The Final Stand at the Docks
Three weeks later.
Though Marco was behind bars, one final loose end remained from the war for the Moretti empire: Marcus Kane, the ruthless leader of the Detroit syndicate who had supplied Marco with weapons and mercenaries.
Refusing to accept defeat, Kane had launched a desperate, late-night ambush on the Moretti family’s main container shipping terminal at the South Boston docks, attempting to seize fifty million dollars in cargo and destroy Adrian's primary distribution hub.
The air at the docks was freezing, thick with the smell of salt water and diesel fuel. Gunfire echoed off massive steel shipping containers as Adrian’s men exchanged fire with Kane’s mercenaries under the harsh glare of floodlights.
Inside the armored mobile command center parked two blocks away, Harper sat before a bank of security monitors, wearing a tactical headset, monitoring the digital camera feeds of the terminal.
She had refused to stay behind at the Newport estate. Armed with her medical knowledge and her sharp tactical mind, she had insisted on managing the field medical triage and monitoring communication channels for Adrian’s squad.
"Adrian, come in," Harper spoke into her headset, her voice steady and controlled. "Two enemy shooters are taking positions on top of blue container 40B, north aisle. They have sniper rifles aimed at your flank."
"Copy that, Doctor," Adrian’s voice crackled through the earpiece, cool and confident. "Lorenzo, take out 40B."
A second later, a loud explosion rocked the screen as Lorenzo’s team neutralized the sniper position with a shoulder-fired rocket.
"Kane is retreating toward the east pier on a speed boat!" Harper reported, her eyes tracking a red thermal signal on the radar screen. "He’s trying to reach international waters!"
"Not on my watch," Adrian replied grimly.
On the live video feed, Harper watched as Adrian commandeered a high-powered Moretti tactical interceptor vessel docked at pier three. The heavy twin engines roared to life, shooting across the dark, icy waters of Boston Harbor like a black arrow.
The interceptor caught Kane’s boat within three hundred yards. Adrian pulled beside the enemy vessel, firing a warning volley across their bow that disabled their steering engine.
Minutes later, the video feed showed Kane being pulled onto the dock in handcuffs by federal agents who had arrived alongside Adrian’s fleet.
The last threat to the Moretti family was officially destroyed.
When Adrian stepped back into the mobile command center, covered in salt spray but completely unharmed, Harper threw her arms around his neck.
Adrian wrapped his heavy arms around her, lifting her off her feet, kissing her amidst the cheers of his men.
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"We did it," Harper laughed against his lips.
"No," Adrian corrected her smoothly, smiling down at her with unbounded pride. "You did it, my Queen."
