Chapter 34
~Dominic~
It’s been three months since the Albanians stormed my home. Since then, security has been tightened, every measure upgraded. In that time, the alliance between the Russians and New York’s Cosa Nostra has only grown stronger.
Our campaign against Alban Berisha’s network in New York and Chicago has escalated.
Sergio—Mischa Pavlov’s trusted enforcer—had gone deep undercover within the Albanian ranks.
When his cover was blown, they seized him, subjecting him to brutal torture in a desperate attempt to pry secrets about the Chicago Bratva.
They failed. Sergio never broke. Mischa tracked him down and launched a rescue mission, pulling him out before the bastards could finish what they started.
Sergio can no longer provide us with inside information on their daily movements. But he is still an invaluable asset. The knowledge he has obtained from living among them and from being a part of the Albanian organization has been advantageous.
In just two years, Sergio had carved out a place for himself, rising through the Albanian ranks to become a trusted insider. His escape dealt them a serious blow — he left carrying knowledge of their inner workings and future plans.
Thanks to his intel, we’ve intercepted several of their shipments over the past three months. Sergio identified most of their entry points into New York and Chicago, giving us the advantage.
I’m sickened by the business that Alban has brought into my territory. The memory of our first rescue haunts me still. I’ve killed in my line of work, but I draw the line at targeting innocent women and children.
The horrors of what we encountered on opening the first set of containers were unforgettable.
Women and girls, as young as twelve years old were huddled inside the shipping containers.
In the stifling heat. People being sold as merchandise.
It broke my heart. Seeing fear and confusion in their eyes.
Many of them battered and drugged. As they cowered, it was obvious that they’d given up on any hope of being rescued.
Not all of them spoke English. They were taken from all over Europe and trafficked here where they were going to be sold.
My disgust at what they had gone through, at the hands of those fucking monsters filled me with rage. We provided the poor souls with medical care and shelter. Some were snatched from their families and wanted to return home. Once they were well enough, we facilitated this.
Others were sold into slavery by their own families.
The same people who were supposed to provide protection from these monsters.
We were able to set up shelters. A place where they would have refuge.
This was done with the help of Elle and Serafina.
They now have access to medical and psychological help.
When they’re ready to go back out into the world, we help them find jobs.
Pavlov has also made similar arrangements for the poor souls he has rescued in Chicago.
I take pleasure in systematically destroying Alban Berisha’s business.
His clients are calling for his head. He is unable to provide the merchandise that they paid him for.
The degenerates want him to deliver what he promised them.
Our job is to ensure his inability to deliver.
We’ve forced him into a corner. I recognize that an exercise in caution on our part would be wise. In my experience, when a snake is cornered, it will eventually strike. And its bite can be deadly. Alban Berisha may feel that he has nothing more to lose and this is what makes him dangerous.