Chapter 9 - The Final Strike
The peace of the lake house was short-lived.
At dawn, Dante was awakened by Marco standing at the foot of his bed. Sophie stirred beside him, pulling the silk sheets up to her chest as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Boss," Marco said, his face pale. "Falcone didn't run. He's gathered what's left of his syndicate. They've taken control of the Bennett Vineyard in Napa."
Sophie sat up instantly, her heart sinking. "What?"
"He knows he’s ruined in Chicago," Marco explained, looking at Sophie. "He’s setting fire to the vineyard estates to liquidate the land for quick cash before the federal marshals freeze his deeds. His men are burning the old cellars right now."
"No!" Sophie cried out, tears spilling over her eyelashes. "My father’s original vines—the hundred-year-old rootstocks—are in those cellars! If they burn, the heritage is gone forever!"
Dante sat up, his expression hardening into pure steel. "Prepare the helicopter, Marco. We're going to California."
"Dante, it's a trap!" Marco warned. "He knows she'll want to save the vineyard. He's waiting for you."
"Then he won't have to wait long," Dante said coldly, throwing off the covers and stepping out of bed. He turned to Sophie, taking her face in his hands. "We end this today, Sophie. On your father's land."
Three hours later, Dante’s private jet touched down at a private airstrip near Napa Valley, followed by two transport helicopters carrying Dante’s elite strike team.
The sun was beating down on the rolling hills of the vineyard, but smoke was already rising from the main valley.
Sophie sat in the front seat of the lead SUV as they tore down the familiar dirt roads of her childhood home. Seeing the charred fields and damaged wooden fences broke her heart, but anger quickly replaced her grief.
When they arrived at the main estate house, smoke was billowing from the stone cellar entrance.
Three armed men belonging to Falcone were guarding the entrance with torches and fuel cans.
Dante’s team didn't hesitate. Before Falcone’s men could react, Marco and the tactical team moved in with silenced weapons, swiftly neutralizing the perimeter guards without giving them a chance to raise an alarm.
Dante pulled two handguns from his shoulder holsters, turning to Sophie. "Stay with Marco at the entrance."
"No," Sophie said fiercely, pulling a heavy fire extinguisher from the rack in the SUV. "The ancient reserve vault is in the lower level. I know the layout better than anyone. I'm going in."
Dante looked into her determined eyes, realizing there was no stopping her. "Right behind me."
They descended into the stone basement. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning wood and gasoline.
At the end of the main corridor, standing near the wooden barrel storage area with a lit torch in his hand, was Victor Falcone.
"I knew you'd come, Dante!" Victor shouted over the crackle of the flames. "A man in love makes foolish mistakes!"
"Put the torch down, Victor!" Dante shouted, raising his weapon, his gaze locked on Falcone. "It's over!"
"It’s only over when I say it is!" Victor snarled, swinging the torch toward a pool of gasoline spread beneath the priceless historical barrels.
Before the torch could touch the liquid, Sophie stepped out from behind a stone pillar and slammed the nozzle of the industrial fire extinguisher, blasting Victor directly in the face with a high-pressure stream of freezing chemical foam.
Victor screamed, blinded and knocked backward by the force. The torch slipped from his hand, falling onto the damp stone floor and sputtering out harmlessly.
Dante moved like lightning, sweeping Victor’s feet out from under him and pinning the old man to the ground, pressing the barrel of his gun firmly against Falcone’s forehead.
Victor lay panting, covered in white chemical foam, looking up at Dante and Sophie in utter defeat.
"You lost, Victor," Sophie said, stepping over the pool of gas and looking down at the man who had destroyed her family. "You took my father’s land, but you could never understand what made it valuable."
Outside, the sirens of federal law enforcement vehicles echoed across the valley. Marco stepped into the cellar, holding a radio.
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"Federal agents have cleared the perimeter, boss," Marco reported. "Falcone’s entire network is being raided across three states."
Dante looked down at Victor, then slowly lowered his weapon. "Death is too easy for you, Victor. You're going to spend the rest of your miserable life in a federal prison, watching us rebuild everything you tried to destroy."
