Chapter 6 - The Shadows on the Docks
By nine o'clock that evening, the rain had returned to Ciudad de Esperanza, drumming a relentless, heavy rhythm against the reinforced glass windows of my private command center at the Sterling Estate.
My mother, Victoria, sat in the leather armchair near the fireplace, holding a cup of herbal tea, her expression unreadable as she listened to Marco's tactical report.
"Kozlov’s men have been hovering around the northern pier district for three months, Mrs. Sterling," Marco explained, pointing to an encrypted map displayed on the large wall screen. "Senator Vance secretly took a fifteen million dollar loan from Kozlov’s front company in Zurich six months ago to keep Vance Logistics afloat. When Mr. Sterling seized the terminals today, Kozlov lost his collateral."
"And Camille offered to help him take it back by force," Victoria stated quietly, taking a small sip of her tea.
"Correct," Marco confirmed. "According to our wiretaps at the Grand Plaza Hotel, Camille gave Kozlov the private access codes to the terminal's security network—codes her father kept in his home safe. In exchange, Kozlov promised her twenty percent of the illegal contraband revenue flowing through the port once his men take control."
"She sold her country, her city, and her father's memory for a handful of silver," I said, standing near the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. "Where is Kozlov now?"
"His heavy strike team is assembling at Warehouse 14 near the northern pier," Marco said, his voice grim. "They plan to occupy the security hub at midnight, lock down the gates, and declare the terminal a private sovereign zone under international maritime law before our new management team takes over tomorrow morning."
"They think we are a corporate firm that fights only in courtrooms," Julian said, his jaw set tight. "They don't realize that my uncle built the Sterling name with iron before he turned it into gold."
I turned away from the window, looking at my mother. "Mother?"
Victoria set her tea cup down on the table, her dark eyes flashing with the same terrifying, unyielding fire that had driven my father thirty years ago.
"The Sterlings do not yield land to street thugs, Gabriel," she said softly, her voice echoing through the quiet room like a bell. "Your father fought Kozlov’s predecessor thirty years ago on those very docks. He drove them into the sea. You will do the same tonight."
"Marco," I commanded, stepping forward. "Assemble the elite response team. Sixteen men, full tactical gear, heavy weapons. We roll out in ten minutes."
"Gabriel," Julian stood up, his face pale. "You can't go to the docks yourself! It's too dangerous! Let Marco and the security team handle it!"
May you like
I looked at my cousin, reaching down to pull my dark leather tactical coat over my shoulders.
"Camille Vance made this personal when she brought Viktor Kozlov into my home," I said, my voice cold, calm, and absolute. "She wants to see if I am a man of gold or a man of iron. Tonight... I am going to show her."
