Chapter 8 - THE SCORCHED EARTH
That night, the city of Chicago witnessed a display of absolute criminal warfare the likes of which had not been seen in fifty years.
Damian Reyes unleashed his entire army upon Jimmy Russo’s empire.
By 1:00 a.m., four of Russo’s illegal casinos in Little Italy were raided and set ablaze by Reyes soldiers. By 2:00 a.m., three of Russo’s supply warehouses at the docks were seized, his lieutenants disarmed and forced out of the city.
Damian himself led the final assault on Russo’s private penthouse suite in the West Loop.
At 3:15 a.m., the steel doors of Russo’s penthouse were blown open with breaching explosives.
Damian walked through the smoke, flanked by Mateo and twenty heavily armed men.
Jimmy Russo was cowering behind his leather sofa in his silk pajamas, holding an empty revolver in his shaking hands, tears pouring down his fat, terrified face.
"R-Reyes... please!" Russo whimpered, dropping the gun onto the carpet. "It was a mistake! I was crazy! Please, I'll give you everything! My territory! My casinos! My money! Just don't kill me!"
Damian walked slowly across the luxurious room, stopping right in front of the cowering mob boss.
He didn't draw a gun. He looked down at Russo with pure, unadulterated disgust.
"You broke into my home," Damian said softly, his voice cutting through the quiet room like a swinging scythe. "You laid hands on Elena Cruz twice. You made her feel unsafe under my roof."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Russo sobbed, begging on his hands and knees, kissing Damian’s polished leather shoes. "Please, Damian! Have mercy!"
"Mercy is for men who respect rules," Damian growled.
He looked at Mateo. "Take him to the docks. Put him on a cargo ship bound for Eastern Europe. Strip him of every penny, every property, and every name he owns. If he ever steps foot on American soil again, put him in the river."
"Understood, boss," Mateo said, signaling two large soldiers to grab the screaming, crying man and drag him away.
By 5:00 a.m., the Westside Syndicate was completely dismantled. Its territory was absorbed into the Reyes Empire, its soldiers disbanded, and its boss erased from the city.
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The entire Chicago underworld watched in awe and terror. The message was loud, clear, and absolute:
Damian Reyes had burnt an entire criminal empire to the ground—all to avenge a maid.
