CHAPTER 2: SHADOWS OF THE ALLEY
The heavy rain began to fall as the black Cadillac Escalade pulled up into the damp alley behind the West Side docks.
Sophie sat in the back seat, wrapped in Vincent’s heavy woolen overcoat. Her tiny hands clutched a mug of warm tea provided by Marcus. She pointed with a trembling finger toward a dilapidated warehouse, its neon sign flickering weakly against the storm.
""In there,"" she whispered. ""The men with the red jackets.""
Vincent adjusted his cuff links. ""Marcus, stay with the child. Paul, open the door.""
Inside the warehouse, the air reeked of damp mold, cheap whiskey, and violence. A woman was kneeling on the cold concrete, her hands bound behind her back, her breath coming in ragged, painful gasps. Standing over her was Viktor—a mid-level enforcer for a rival syndicate known for ruthless loan sharking.
""I told you, Elena,"" Viktor sneered, raising a heavy leather belt. ""Interest doubles every week.""
""I... I paid what I could..."" the woman gasped, her vision blurring.
Before the belt could swing down, a single gunshot rang out, echoing off the corrugated iron walls. The bullet shattered the concrete inches from Viktor’s boot.
Viktor froze, turning around furiously. ""Who the hell—""
The anger melted from his face instantly as Vincent stepped out of the shadows, flanked by four armed men whose expressions were made of stone.
""Vincent Corneille,"" Viktor stammered, stepping back. ""This... this is local collection business. It doesn't concern the Syndicate.""
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""It concerns me,"" Vincent said softly, stepping closer. ""Because you beat a mother in front of her child. And in my city, we have standards.""
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