Chapter 12 - The Steel Trap
The drive to Pier Four was tense and entirely silent.
The docks were a sprawling maze of towering metal containers and massive cranes.
Victor was already waiting by the waterfront, flanked by four heavily armed guards.
He looked surprised when Kayla stepped out of the black SUV alongside Gunther.
"You brought the queen to the mud?" Victor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She found the leak," Gunther replied flatly, keeping Kayla slightly behind him.
"Show me the Italian shipments."
Victor led them down a narrow corridor of stacked blue and red shipping containers.
They stopped in front of a massive steel box bearing the serial numbers Kayla had highlighted.
"Break the seal," Gunther commanded.
Two of Victor's men stepped forward with heavy bolt cutters and snapped the customs lock.
They heaved the heavy metal doors open.
The container was not filled with expensive Italian textiles.
It was packed floor to ceiling with military-grade assault rifles and unmarked explosives.
Gunther’s blood turned to absolute ice.
Someone was using his clean ports to arm a massive, private army inside his city.
Before Gunther could speak, the deafening screech of tires echoed across the concrete pier.
Four unmarked black SUVs boxed in the aisle, completely trapping Gunther, Kayla, and Victor’s men.
Dozens of men in tactical gear poured out, raising automatic weapons.
A man stepped out of the lead vehicle, wearing a pristine white suit that stood out against the grime of the docks.
He had slicked-back dark hair and a cruel, aristocratic smile.
"Gunther Woods," the man called out, his voice smooth and heavily accented with Italian.
"I see you found my luggage."
Gunther shoved Kayla entirely behind his body, drawing his weapon in a blur of motion.
"Lorenzo Costa," Gunther growled, recognizing the ruthless boss of the New York syndicate.
"You are a long way from home."
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"I heard the king of this city went soft," Lorenzo sneered, his eyes drifting toward the beautiful woman hiding behind Gunther.
"I came to take your crown."
