Chapter 22 Damon
Later that night…
The Verga compound sits in the industrial district like a fortress, surrounded by high walls and razor wire. Three buildings connected by covered walkways, multiple escape routes, and enough firepower to hold off a small army.
Too bad they're not expecting a large army.
"Everyone in position," Tommy orders through my earpiece. "Front gate team ready. North exit covered. Warehouse team standing by."
I adjust my position on the rooftop across the street, checking my rifle scope one more time. The compound is well-lighted, guards visible at regular intervals, exactly as our intelligence predicted.
"Overwatch in position," I report. "I count twelve visible targets. Two roving patrols, stationary guards at each building entrance."
"Roger that." My father's voice comes through the command channel. "Leandro Manzo confirmed inside the main building. Primary target is neutralization of leadership in the upper rooms. Secondary objectives are elimination of weapons cache and destruction of financial records."
"Rules of engagement?" Tommy asks.
"No survivors," my father responds coldly. "This ends tonight."
I scan the compound through my scope, identifying targets, calculating angles, preparing for what's about to become a slaughter. Because that's what this is, not a battle, but an execution. The Vergas declared war when they attacked our safe house. Now they're going to learn why that was a mistake.
"Initiate on my mark," I say into my comm. "Three... two... one... mark."
The world explodes into violence.
The front gate team breaches with shaped charges, the explosion lighting up the night sky. Gunfire erupts from multiple positions as our men advance through the smoke and chaos.
I acquire my first target through the scope, a guard running toward the main building with an assault rifle. One shot, center mass. He drops immediately.
"Guard tower, eleven o'clock," I report, swinging my rifle toward the elevated position. Another shot, another target eliminated.
"Main building breached," Tommy reports. "Heavy resistance on the first floor."
"Copy that. Providing overwatch support."
Through my scope, I can see muzzle flashes from the windows of the main building. I identify a sniper position and put two rounds through the window, eliminating the threat.
"North exit secured," one of Roberto's men reports. "Three targets down, no survivors."
"Warehouse team encountering problems," another voice calls out. "Request immediate support."
"On the way," I respond, already moving across the rooftop to get a better angle on the warehouse building.
The Vergas are fighting hard, but they're outgunned and outmaneuvered. This isn't a fair fight. It's a coordinated operation designed to eliminate every member of their organization in one night.
I put a round through a Verga soldier who was trying to flank Tommy's position, then shift to cover the warehouse approach. Through my scope, I can see our men stacked up outside the loading dock, preparing to breach.
"Warehouse team, you have one sniper in the second-floor window, northwest corner," I report.
"Can you eliminate?"
"Stand by."
I adjust for wind and distance, steady my breathing, and squeeze the trigger. The window explodes in a spray of glass and blood.
"Target down. You're clear to breach."
"Breaching now."
The loading dock door explodes inward as our men rush the warehouse. More gunfire, more shouting, the sounds of a one-sided battle.
"Leandro Manzo located," Tommy's voice cuts through the chaos. "Main building, second floor. Moving to engage."
"Negative," I respond immediately. "Manzo is mine. He’s the bastard who put her in danger."
"Copy that. We'll secure the building and wait for your arrival."
I sling my rifle and head for the fire escape, rappelling down to street level. The compound is mostly secure now, the sounds of gunfire becoming sporadic as the last pockets of resistance are eliminated.
"Status update," I call out as I move toward the main building.
"All teams operational. No friendly casualties reported. Estimated eight minutes until police response."
Plenty of time to finish this and get out clean.
The main building's lobby is a war zone. Bodies, blood, shattered glass, and bullet holes in every surface. Our men have done their job efficiently and thoroughly.
"Building secured," Tommy reports as I enter. "Their leadership is holed up in the second-floor office with Manzo. Two guards, both armed."
"Any other exits from that office?"
"Fire escape on the east side. Timo's covering it."
"I'm going up."
The stairwell is narrow and dark, perfect for an ambush. But the Vergas are amateurs compared to the kind of warfare my family specializes in. I move carefully but confidently, knowing our men have eliminated any real threats.
The second-floor hallway shows signs of the earlier fighting, blood on the walls, spent shell casings scattered across the floor. The office door at the far end is closed, probably barricaded.
"Manzo!" I call out. "You know why I'm here."
"Fuck you, Lombardi!" comes the muffled response.
"You killed my men. You attacked my safe house. You tried to kill someone under my protection."
"Your whore, you mean?"
The crude reference to Viviana makes my vision go red. "Come out and we'll make this quick."
"Go to hell!"
"I'm trying to be reasonable here, Leandro. But my patience is limited."
"You want me? Come and get me!"
I look at the office door, calculating. Heavy wood, probably reinforced. The lock looks industrial grade. But the walls on either side are drywall.
"Tommy, bring me a breaching charge."
"On the way."
Two minutes later, Tommy arrives with a small shaped charge and the equipment to set it. We position it carefully on the wall next to the door, then retreat to a safe distance.
"Fire in the hole!"
The explosion tears a man-sized hole in the wall, filling the hallway with dust and debris. Before the smoke clears, I'm through the hole with my pistol drawn.
Leandro Manzo is crouched behind an overturned desk, bleeding from a head wound caused by the blast. Two bodies lie near him, clearly Verga leadership who trusted this asshole to protect them.
"Game over, Leandro."
He looks up at me with hate-filled eyes. "You think this ends anything? There are others. More families who want you dead. The Verga coming after you is only the beginning."
"Maybe. But you won't be around to see it."
"You're making a mistake, Lombardi. Killing me won't solve your problems."
"It sure as hell will solve one of them."
I raise my pistol, but before I can fire, Manzo lunges for a gun on the floor. I put two rounds in his chest before he can reach it.
Leandro Manzo collapses, his eyes going glassy as blood pools beneath him.
"All bastards eliminated," I report into my comm.
"Copy that," my father responds. "Initiate cleanup protocol and get out."
I stand over Manzo's body, thinking about everything that led to this point. The attacks, the safe house breach, the weeks of hiding with Viviana.
"Boss," Tommy yells from the hallway. "We need to move. Police response in three minutes."
"On my way."
I holster my weapon and head back through the hole in the wall. The compound is quiet now except for the crackling of fires and the distant sound of sirens.
"Cleanup teams, status report," I call out as we move toward the exit.
"Weapons cache destroyed."
"All targets eliminated, no survivors."
"Outstanding. All teams extract to the rally point."
We move through the compound efficiently, leaving behind nothing but bodies and flames. The Verga family's reign is over, ended in less than an hour of coordinated violence.
The drive to the rally point takes fifteen minutes through back roads and industrial areas. By the time we arrive at the abandoned warehouse where both families are waiting, the adrenaline is starting to wear off and the reality of what we've accomplished is setting in.
"Mission accomplished," I report to my father as our men unload from their vehicles.
"Casualties?"
"None on our side. Elimination of Verga leadership in the building."
"Outstanding work." My father's smile is cold, satisfied. "The Verga threat is eliminated. Now it’s time to take the girl back to her family where she belongs."
I should feel relief it’s over.
Instead, all I can think about is what comes next.