Chapter 4 - The War at the DocksWhile peace settled over the Castellano Estate, a secondary, desperate conflict erupted at the primary shipping terminal of Pier 42 in Brooklyn.
Richard Lawson—Derek’s fifty-eight-year-old father—had refused to accept the total liquidation of his real estate empire. Driven by arrogant, unhinged desperation, Richard had aligned himself with the Fletcher Syndicate—a secondary criminal faction in Miami that Raymond Fletcher had managed before his arrest.
At 11:00 PM on a rain-slicked Thursday night, Richard Lawson and twenty armed Fletcher mercenaries blocked the primary entrance gate at Pier 42, threatening to destroy three commercial cargo cranes if Vincent didn't release Derek and rescind the asset liquidation notices.
Inside Vincent's private study on Wall Street, the phone rang sharply.
It was Marco.
"Don Vincent," Marco reported over the speaker, his voice tight and urgent. "Richard Lawson has brought twenty armed men to Pier 42. He claims he has secondary commercial liens against the Vance Maritime Trust and is threatening to ignite the fuel reserves."
Vincent didn't flinch. He stood up from his mahogany desk, slipping into his dark wool overcoat.
"Deploy thirty primary units to Pier 42, Marco," Vincent commanded flatly. "And bring the Maybach to the front entrance."
Amelia stepped out from the adjoining library, wearing her midnight-blue coat, her posture straight, her hazel eyes holding zero fear.
"I'm coming with you, Vincent," Amelia stated, her clear voice carrying an unyielding, velvet power.
Vincent paused, looking down into her hazel eyes. "Amelia, it’s dangerous at the docks tonight—"
"Those docks belong to my father's memory, Vincent," Amelia interrupted softly, stepping up beside him, taking his broad hand firmly into hers. "And I refuse to let another coward use my name to cause fear."
May you like
Vincent offered a rare, breathtaking smile—a look of pure, eternal pride that lit up his severe, carved features.
"Lead the way, my queen," Vincent promised.
Related Stories
