Chapter 11 - The Ghost From Dock 42
Sal reached for the nickel-plated revolver resting on his desk.
BANG.
Adrian shot the revolver right off the wood.
The blast took two of Sal’s fingers with it.
Sal shrieked in agony, clutching his mangled right hand against his chest.
He collapsed backward into his high-backed leather chair, weeping in pain.
"Adrian... Adrian, wait!" Sal sobbed, blood dripping onto his bespoke suit.
"We can settle this! We can split the southern routes fifty-fifty!"
"The routes are gone, Sal," Adrian said, stepping forward.
His gun remained pointed directly at Sal’s forehead.
"Julian is already in federal custody."
"The ledgers are on the Attorney General’s desk."
"Your bank accounts in Zurich were frozen twenty minutes ago."
Sal’s face went dead, sickly gray.
"You ruined us," Sal wheezed. "You ruined everything."
"You ruined yourself three years ago," I said, stepping past Adrian into the
light.
Sal looked up at me through tears of agony.
His eyes widened in recognition.
"Emily Rivers," Sal gasped.
"You look just like him."
"Like who?" I demanded.
"Danny," Sal coughed, blood flecking his lips.
"He stood right where you're standing three years ago."
"He wouldn't take the money."
"I offered him a million dollars, girl! One million!"
"And do you know what your stupid brother said to me?"
"Tell me," I choked out, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.
"He said: 'My sister deserves to look me in the eye without being ashamed.'"
Sal let out a wet, broken laugh.
"He died for pride, Emily. Stupid, worthless pride."
"He died for honor," I said, my voice hardening into steel.
"Something you never had."
I reached into my vest.
I pulled out Danny’s pocketknife.
I slammed the blade deep into the mahogany desk, an inch from Sal’s bleeding
wrist.
"That's for Danny," I whispered.
Outside, the heavy sirens of fifty federal vehicles began to wail across the
causeway.
Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the warehouse windows like a sunrise.
Leo walked into the office, his rifle resting against his shoulder.
"FBI perimeter is set, Boss," Leo reported. "Dock is secure."
Adrian looked down at Sal.
"You don't get a clean death, Sal."
"You get twenty-three hours a day in a concrete hole."
"And every night, you will remember Danny Rivers."
May you like
Adrian took my hand.
"Let's go, Emily."
