CHAPTER 7: THE RIVAL SYNDICATE'S TRAP
Across town in a heavily fortified waterfront warehouse, a rival mafia capo named Salvatore watched the live television broadcast of Emma stepping out of the police station. Salvatore crushed his crystal whiskey glass in his fist, red wine-colored liquor dripping between his thick, scarred fingers onto the concrete floor.
"That miserable bastard Alejandro thinks he outsmarted the feds by parading a fake wife across every news channel in America," Salvatore snarled angrily. His top enforcer stepped out of the shadows, reloading a silenced submachine gun with cold, mechanical precision.
Salvatore knew the truth because he was the one who had orchestrated the real Elena Vance’s disappearance eight years ago to destroy Alejandro’s criminal supply lines. Seeing a woman walking around looking identical to the captive in his Swiss facility meant someone had compromised his hidden leverage.
"Find out who that woman really is, track down her background on the streets, and bring her to me before Alejandro figures out the game," Salvatore commanded fiercely. The enforcer nodded silently, slipping out through the side loading dock into the rainy night to execute the hit.
Meanwhile, Emma sat alone in the luxurious penthouse living room, staring out at the dazzling city lights while turning the heavy leather envelope of cash in her hands. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Alejandro was hiding a much darker secret behind his aristocratic charm and bodyguard details.
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A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the terrace doors, accompanied by a soft, metallic click that echoed from the private elevator foyer. Emma froze, her instincts kicking in from years of surviving on the harsh, unforgiving streets of the old district.
She crept silently toward the hallway, watching as a black-clad figure picked the electronic lock of the front door with terrifying efficiency. The trap was springing shut, and she was entirely alone in a penthouse surrounded by enemies who wanted her silenced permanently.
