Chapter 7 - The Midnight Ambush
""Drop the syringe, Camille,"" Piper warned, her finger curling firmly around the trigger. ""Or I will paint this wall with whatever passes for your brains.""
Camille sneered, though the tremor in her hands betrayed her panic. ""You think you're brave because Moretti is standing behind you? You're nothing! Your father was a fool who tried to play moral crusader, and look at him now! A vegetable who can't even remember your face!""
""He remembers love,"" Piper whispered, her voice deadly steady. ""Which is something you'll never have.""
Suddenly, the closet door inside the room burst open. A third gunman lunged toward Piper, gun raised.
Before Piper could pivot, Dante appeared behind her like a phantom. A single, thunderous shot rang out from his gun. The gunman collapsed instantly, disarmed and neutralized before he could take aim.
Distracted by the blast, Camille lunged toward Walter, driving the needle downward.
""Dad!"" Piper screamed.
Piper fired. The bullet ripped through Camille’s right shoulder, spinning her around and sending the syringe flying across the room, where it shattered against the linoleum floor. Camille shrieked in agony, clutching her bleeding shoulder as she collapsed into the corner.
Walter blinked, slowly turning his head toward the noise. His clouded, gray eyes looked past the smoke, past the blood, and settled squarely on Piper.
A fragile, miraculous spark of recognition broke through the fog of his illness.
""Piper?"" Walter rasped, his voice thin and trembling. ""Little Bird... why are you making so much noise? The roses need their water.""
Piper dropped the gun onto the bedside table and threw her arms around her father, sobbing into his hospital gown. ""I'm here, Dad. I'm right here. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again.""
Dante stood in the doorway, weapon lowered, watching the reunion with a softness in his eyes that no living person in Louisville had ever witnessed.
Luca appeared behind Dante, breathing hard. ""Boss, the building is secure. Vance’s associates across town are being rounded up by the feds as we speak. We handed over the docks' coordinates.""
Dante nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Piper. ""Call the private medical transport. Move Walter to the estate in Prospect. Dr. Bennett will oversee his care around the clock.""
""Yes, Mr. Moretti,"" Luca said respectfully, turning to coordinate the team.
May you like
Camille groaned from the floor, spitting blood. ""You think... you won, Dante? Marcus has fifty men at the river docks. They’ll burn your warehouses to ash.""
Dante stepped forward, looking down at her with pure, arctic disdain. ""Let them try. The river belongs to me.""
