Chapter 5 - The Gala of Wolves
The grand ballroom of the Romano mansion glittered with opulence and danger. Crystal chandeliers suspended from vaulted ceilings cast brilliant light across marble floors crowded with over two hundred elite guests: international shipping magnates, corrupt politicians, high-society socialites, and underworld capos dressed in tailored tuxedos and designer evening gowns. Champagne flowed freely, and a string quartet played classical waltzes, masking the lethal undercurrent running through the hall.
Upstairs in a heavily guarded wing, Arthur Bennett held Lily tightly in his arms.
""Daddy has to do a very important game with Vincent tonight,"" Arthur explained softly, kissing her forehead. ""You're going to take a nice ride with Uncle Gio to a big castle with lots of ice cream and cartoons, okay?""
Lily looked at him with that perceptive innocence only children possess. ""Is Titan coming too?""
""Titan has to help Daddy guard the front yard first,"" Arthur smiled, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ""He’s wearing his special invisible armor tonight. When you wake up tomorrow morning, we’ll both be there to take you for the biggest road trip in New York.""
Lily beamed and wrapped her small arms around his neck. ""Tell Titan I left a biscuit in his wagon.""
Ten minutes later, Gio secretly loaded Lily into an inconspicuous, heavily armored surveillance van disguised as a floral delivery truck, slipping out through a subterranean tunnel beneath the estate that bypassed all perimeter cameras. Arthur watched the surveillance feed until the van was five miles clear of Westchester. A massive weight lifted off his chest. His daughter was safe. Now, it was time for war.
Downstairs in the ballroom, Vincent Romano was playing the part of the gracious host to perfection. He raised a crystal glass of champagne toward a circle of foreign investors. Among them stood Senator Richard Vance, the corrupt port commissioner who secretly backed Caleb Morrison's faction.
""To prosperity on the waterfront,"" Vincent toasted, his smile razor-sharp. ""And to knowing exactly who stands beside you when the tide turns.""
Senator Vance smiled nervously, raising his glass. ""To loyalty, Vincent. In our business, nothing is more valuable.""
Across the room, Caleb Morrison stood near the French doors, checking his encrypted tactical watch: 8:45 PM. Fifteen minutes until zero hour. Caleb tapped his earpiece, speaking into a disguised lapel microphone. ""Sniper team one, report. Is the perimeter clear?""
""All clear, Morrison,"" came the distorted reply from the forest ridge near the East Gate. ""Estate guards are rotated away from the secondary courtyard just as planned. The path from the gardener's cottage to the gate is open.""
""Keep your eyes peeled for the target,"" Caleb ordered, his heart thumping with greedy anticipation. ""The gardener's kid will be in that ridiculous pink toy car. The shepherd will be trailing behind her. As soon as they reach the old greenhouse alley, we secure the collar, download the biometric crypto-key, and trigger the perimeter alarm. Once Romano runs outside to investigate, our snipers eliminate him.""
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""Copy that. Movement spotted near the garden cottage. The pink car just rolled onto the gravel path.""
Caleb grinned, adjusting his cuffs. He looked back at Vincent Romano laughing with guests across the ballroom. Enjoy your last champagne, old man, Caleb thought. By midnight, I own the entire Eastern seaboard.
