Chapter 13 - The River Slip|
The train shed was vast, dark, and smelled of creosote and old iron.
Rain poured through the broken glass skylights, dripping onto the rusted diesel locomotives parked inside.
Nico stepped through the side doorway, his shoes silent against the wet concrete, his gun raised.
At the far end of the shed, a heavy steel door led out to the river dock.
A single shadow moved quickly toward the light.
"Walter!" Nico’s voice echoed off the high corrugated walls like thunder.
The shadow froze.
Walter Brandt slowly turned around, his silver hair plastered against his forehead by the rain, holding a snub-nosed revolver in his shaking hand.
"You think you're a king, don't you, Valenti?" Walter rasped, his breath coming in white clouds. "Your father was a street thug, and you're just a street thug in a expensive coat!"
"My father didn't kill his own blood, Walter," Nico said, stepping slowly forward, his gun aimed squarely at the old man's chest.
"She betrayed me!" Walter screamed, his eyes wild with unhinged fury. "She was going to give everything to the feds! My empire! My name!"
"She was protecting her children from a monster," Nico said softly.
Walter raised his revolver, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Phft. Phft.
Two suppressed gunshots echoed through the dark train shed.
Walter Brandt froze. He looked down at his chest in shock as two dark red spots expanded across his white shirt. His revolver slipped from his numb fingers, clattering onto the concrete floor.
He collapsed onto his knees, then fell forward into the puddle at his feet.
Nico lowered his pistol, standing over the dead man for a long beat as the rain drummed softly against the roof above.
Behind him, heavy footsteps approached.
Dante stepped through the doorway, holding his shotgun, looking down at Walter’s body.
"It's over, boss," Dante said quietly. "Brandt's crew gave up. The streets are clean."
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Nico turned toward the exit, slipping his gun back into his holster.
"Clean up the yard," Nico ordered. "We're going home."
