Chapter 7 - THE UNLEASHED STORM
The humiliation of Jimmy Russo at the Italian Cultural Center sent shockwaves through the Chicago underworld.
Within forty-eight hours, every criminal syndicate in the city knew the story: Damian Reyes had broken the nose of a Westside boss and threatened war over a maid.
Some called him crazy. Others called him a fool driven by passion. But those who knew Damian Reyes best knew the truth: he was a predator who had finally found something he cared enough to burn the world for.
However, Jimmy Russo was not a man to accept defeat gracefully.
Cornered, humiliated, and losing authority among his own lieutenants, Russo decided to make a desperate, suicidal play.
On a rainy Thursday night at 11:00 p.m., the Reyes estate was quiet.
Elena sat in the cozy living room of her carriage house, reading a book by the warmth of the stone fireplace. She was wearing a comfortable beige sweater and jeans, feeling safer than she had ever felt in her life.
Suddenly, THE GLASS OF HER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED!
Two heavy tear-gas canisters crashed onto the rug, releasing thick, white, blinding smoke into the living room!
Elena gasped, coughing violently as her eyes burned. She scrambled off the sofa, trying to reach the front door, but before she could cross the room, two men wearing black tactical masks burst through the shattered window!
"GET HER! GRAB THE GIRL!" a voice yelled through the smoke.
A heavy hand grabbed Elena’s arm!
Remembering her months of terror, Elena didn't cower. She grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the end table and smashed it violently across the intruder's face!
The man grunted, staggering backward, blood spurting from beneath his mask.
"YOU BITCH!" the second intruder roared, lunging forward and pinning her arms behind her back!
"DAMIAN!" Elena screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice tearing through the quiet night air. "DAMIAN!"
Out inside the main courtyard, Damian was stepping out of his Suburban after returning from a late meeting at the docks.
The moment her scream echoed across the dark grounds, Damian’s blood turned to liquid fire.
"ELENA!" he roared.
He drew his SIG Sauer pistol and sprinted across the rain-slicked lawn toward the carriage house like a dark, unstoppable demon!
He reached the front door of the cottage, raised his heavy combat boot, and KICKED THE OAK DOOR COMPLETELY OFF ITS HINGES!
The door flew inward, crashing into the smoke-filled living room!
Through the hazy white tear gas, Damian saw two men dragging a struggling Elena toward the shattered rear window.
Damian didn't hesitate. He raised his pistol.
THWIP! THWIP!
Two suppressed shots echoed through the room with lethal precision!
The first gunman carrying Elena dropped instantly, a bullet hole placed cleanly between his eyes. The second gunman gasped, dropping to his knees as a bullet tore through his shoulder!
Damian stormed through the smoke, grabbed the surviving intruder by his tactical vest, and dragged him screaming out onto the rain-soaked grass of the courtyard!
Mateo and six estate guards rushed across the lawn, weapons drawn, securing the perimeter.
Damian slammed the intruder onto the muddy grass, placing his heavy boot directly onto the man's chest, crushing his ribs.
"WHO SENT YOU?!" Damian roared, his dark face wild with a terrifying, murderous rage that looked barely human. "WHO SENT YOU TO MY HOUSE?!"
"R-Russo!" the gunman choked out through blood-stained teeth. "Jimmy Russo! He paid us fifty grand to kidnap the girl! He wanted to trade her for his territory back!"
Damian’s dark eyes locked onto Mateo.
"Mateo," Damian said, his voice dropping into an absolute, terrifying calm that sent shivers down the spine of every guard standing in the rain.
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"Yes, boss?"
"Assemble every soldier we have," Damian ordered, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the compound. "Tonight, the Westside Syndicate ceases to exist."
