CHAPTER 6 – THE SHOT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
CHAPTER 6 – THE SHOT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The following afternoon, Richard Ashford stood behind a podium decorated with American flags.
Television cameras filled the ballroom.
"My campaign," he announced confidently, "is built on family values."
The audience applauded.
His elegant wife smiled beside him.
His daughters waved.
Outside...
Marco watched the broadcast from inside his office.
He muted the television.
"Disgusting."
Luca entered.
"We found Edward Collins."
"Where?"
"He checked into the Grand Regency Hotel."
Marco stood.
"Let's pay him a visit."
Edward Collins never saw them coming.
He was pouring whiskey when the hotel suite door quietly opened.
Marco entered alone.
Collins nearly dropped his glass.
"You..."
"Sit."
"I know my rights."
Marco smiled slightly.
"You still think this is a courtroom."
Collins slowly sat.
"You represent Richard Ashford."
"I represent many clients."
"You arranged the eviction."
"No."
Marco placed a recording device on the table.
Benson's confession filled the room.
Collins turned pale.
Marco stopped the recording.
"Last chance."
The lawyer's confidence disappeared.
"It wasn't supposed to go this far."
"What wasn't?"
"The campaign only wanted her relocated."
"And the hired gun?"
Collins froze.
Marco's eyes narrowed.
"Hired gun?"
Collins realized his mistake.
He whispered,
"Oh God..."
Marco stepped closer.
"You've got five seconds."
Collins broke.
"They hired someone this morning."
Marco's heart sank.
"To do what?"
"Kill Jenny."
Silence.
Then Marco's phone rang.
Dante.
Marco answered immediately.
"Boss!"
Gunfire exploded through the speaker.
"We're under attack!"
Marco was already running.
"Status!"
"Two shooters!"
"Jenny?"
"They're inside the apartment!"
Marco sprinted toward the elevator.
"Protect the boy!"
"We're trying!"
Another burst of automatic gunfire echoed through the phone.
Then...
Silence.
The call disconnected.
For the first time in years...
Marco felt fear.
Real fear.
He raced through downtown traffic as black SUVs flew behind him.
Six minutes later...
His convoy screeched to a halt outside Jenny's apartment building.
Residents were screaming.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
Smoke drifted from a shattered second-floor window.
Marco didn't wait for backup.
He ran inside.
The hallway was covered in broken glass.
One bodyguard lay wounded near the stairs.
Another was unconscious.
Apartment 2B's door hung open.
Marco drew his pistol.
"Jenny!"
No answer.
He stepped inside.
The living room was destroyed.
Furniture overturned.
Bullet holes covered the walls.
Then he heard it.
A child crying.
Very softly.
From inside the bedroom.
Marco rushed toward the sound—
—and stopped dead in the doorway.
Jenny was on the floor.
Covered in blood.
Still clutching Noah tightly against her chest.
She had used her own body as a shield.
Noah was alive.
Jenny...
Wasn't moving.
Marco dropped to his knees.
"Jenny..."
For the first time since burying his own family years ago...
The feared mafia boss felt tears fill his eyes.
And somewhere outside the apartment...
Hidden behind the chaos...
May you like
A sniper raised his rifle one last time.
Marco had just become the next target.
