Chapter 6 - Into the Fire
The sky above the harbor glowed a sickly, fiery orange.
Sebastian’s fleet of vehicles arrived at the northern docks twenty minutes later. Flames leapt fifty feet into the air, consuming the massive shipping crates that stored millions of dollars in legitimate pharmaceutical supplies—the front business that allowed the Ror syndicate to operate legally within the state.
"It’s a massacre," Dante said, pulling up beside Sebastian. "Valenti’s men stormed the perimeter with incendiary grenades. We lost six guards."
Audrey, who had insisted on accompanying them despite Sebastian’s furious objections, leaned forward from the backseat. She looked at the flames, then at the shipping manifest displayed on the SUV’s dashboard screen.
"Wait," Audrey said, leaning over Sebastian’s shoulder. "That warehouse... that’s distribution hub B-4."
"What of it?" Sebastian asked, his mind already calculating the tactical response, preparing to order a full-scale assault on Valenti’s compound.
"That’s where the specialized oncology medications for the state hospice network are stored," Audrey said, her voice rising in alarm. "If those supplies burn, St. Jude’s and four other care facilities won't have critical pain management drugs for the next three months! People will die in agony!"
Sebastian turned to look at her. "Audrey, that entire structure is about to collapse. It’s lost."
"No!" Audrey slammed her hand against the front seat. "The central vault in B-4 is reinforced fireproof steel! If the automated suppression system is manually overridden from the control room inside, the inner vault will survive!"
"The control room is in the center of the fire zone," Dante interjected coldly. "It’s suicide."
Audrey pulled the door handle. "Then I’m going in."
"The hell you are!" Sebastian grabbed her, dragging her back into her seat. "Are you out of your mind? You’re a doctor’s daughter, not a firefighter!"
"Those drugs were donated by Catherine’s memorial trust!" Audrey screamed, glaring at him with pure defiance. "She set up that fund before she died! If you let it burn to fight your stupid war, you are letting her legacy turn to ash!"
Sebastian stared at her. The words shattered whatever remaining ice surrounded his heart.
He released her arm, turned to Dante, and tore his enforcer’s fire-retardant tactical jacket off his shoulders.
"Boss, what are you doing?" Dante gasped.
"Stay here and secure the perimeter," Sebastian commanded, slipping into the coat and grabbing a heavy fire extinguisher and a wet cloth from the trunk. "If anyone approaches this vehicle while I’m inside, shoot them."
He turned to Audrey, his hands grabbing her face, forcing her to look into his eyes.
May you like
"You stay in this car," Sebastian said, his tone commanding, yet laced with a desperate tenderness she had never heard from him before. "I am going to get your medications. And then you and I are going to finish this conversation."
Without waiting for a response, Sebastian sprinted straight into the raging inferno.
