Chapter 6 - Dawn Over the HarborThe first rays of golden autumn sunlight broke over the East River, washing the Manhattan waterfront in a brilliant, warm glow that banished the dark shadows of the night before.
Federal law enforcement vehicles had arrived in force at the storage yards. Dozens of agents from the FBI and the Department of Justice were actively processing the arrested mercenaries, loading Marcus Vance’s co-conspirators into transport vans, and securing the physical evidence recovered from block C-12.
Dominic stood near the edge of the concrete pier, watching the sunrise reflect off the dark water. His coat was dusted with ash, but his posture was relaxed, unburdened by the invisible threats that had weighed down his empire for years.
Amelia walked up beside him, carrying the recovered metal briefcase in one hand. She had cleaned the soot from her face, though her clothes still bore the scent of smoke and gunpowder.
"The federal prosecutor’s office just confirmed receipt of the physical archives," Dominic said without turning around. "Every name, every shell company, every corrupted official tied to Constantine and Vance is now part of an inescapable federal indictment. Your father’s work just dismantled the largest underground syndicate on the East Coast."
Amelia looked out across the harbor, watching a massive container ship bearing the Moretti Holdings logo glide smoothly toward the open sea.
"They can't hide behind shadows anymore," Amelia said quietly.
Dominic turned to look at her, his dark eyes softening completely. "And neither can you. You don't have to go back to scrubbing tables at The Sterling, Amelia. Unless, of course, you genuinely enjoyed the culinary arts."
Amelia let out a genuine, musical laugh—the kind of lighthearted sound that hadn't escaped her lips in over a decade. "I think I've had quite enough of restaurant service for one lifetime."
"Good," Dominic said, reaching into his inner coat pocket and pulling out a heavy, secure black card embossed with a platinum crest. He held it out to her. "My private cryptographic intelligence division has been operating without a director of security analysis since my last man retired. The salary starts at twenty times what The Sterling was paying you. Plus, that ten-million-dollar signing bonus is already sitting in an escrow account waiting for your signature."
Amelia stared at the platinum card. It wasn't just a job offer; it was an invitation to step out of the shadows, to reclaim her father’s legacy, and to help shape a world where secrets couldn't be used to destroy innocent lives.
She reached out and took the card from his hand. Her fingers brushed his, warm and steady.
"I have one condition," Amelia said, a playful challenge dancing in her dark eyes.
Dominic raised an eyebrow, amused. "Name it."
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"You have to let me redesign your private office security protocols," she said smoothly. "Because if a four-year-old child or a clumsy waitress can waltz in and find vulnerabilities in your analog systems, your defenses need a serious upgrade."
Dominic laughed—a rich, deep sound that carried across the quiet pier. "Deal."
