Chapter 9 - Unlikely Allies
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Before Leah could argue, a heavy alarm buzzed above the steel door. Someone was trying to input the passcode at the top of the stairs.
Dante instantly stood, pulling a heavy assault rifle from the rack on the wall. He motioned for Leah to get behind him. She raised her revolver, her hands shaking violently.
The heavy steel door hissed open.
"Boss, don't shoot! It's me!" a voice yelled from the darkness.
A man stepped into the light. He was sharply dressed, dripping wet from the rain, and bleeding from a cut above his eye. It was Enzo, Dante's right-hand man.
Dante didn't lower his rifle. "How did you find this place? Only two people know about it, and you aren't one of them."
Enzo raised his hands slowly. "Your uncle told me. He said you might have come here after the hit at the hotel."
Dante’s face darkened. "My uncle."
"Yes," Enzo breathed heavily. "Boss, it wasn't just Sable. Sable doesn't have the juice to buy your security detail. Your uncle funded the coup. He wants to take over the family. Sable is just his attack dog."
Dante finally lowered the rifle. The betrayal cut deeper than any knife could. His own blood had sold him out.
Enzo looked past Dante and noticed Leah standing there with a trembling revolver. "Who is the girl?"
"She's the reason I'm breathing," Dante said, his voice devoid of emotion. "What's the situation on the streets?"
"Bad," Enzo grimaced. "Your uncle told the capos you were dead. Half the family has already pledged loyalty to him. The loyalists are waiting for a signal, but if you don't show your face soon, we lose the city."
"And Sable?"
"He's at his nightclub in Brooklyn," Enzo said. "Celebrating. He thinks he got away with it."
Dante walked over to the weapons rack, tossing a shotgun to Enzo. He then strapped a tactical vest over his chest and loaded three extra magazines into his pockets.
"We're going to Brooklyn," Dante said.
"No," Leah stepped forward, her voice surprisingly firm. "You're injured. You go in there with just the two of you, it's a suicide mission."
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Dante stopped, looking down at the fierce, curvy waitress who had saved his life. "Leah, this is where you step away. Stay down here. Lock the door. When it's over, I'll send someone for you."
"Like hell you will," Leah said, gripping the revolver tighter. "You promised to wipe my debts. You can't do that if you're dead."
