The war room's lights flickered as the storm outside reached its peak, lightning split the sky in jagged bursts, illuminating the underground bunker like a battlefield caught in flashes of gunfire. Rain pounded against the steel walls above, echoing like distant war drums.
Luca stood at the center of it all, Anton's notebook open in his hands, flipping through names and notes written in his grandfather's precise, slanted script. Each entry was a promise, a warning, or a command. Some were coded, others direct.
He looked up at Enzo and the woman who had once loved Anton, Lucy, and spoke with quiet certainty.
"We start with Dominic Reyes."
Enzo raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Luca nodded. "He was Anton's most trusted informant. If anyone still has ears inside Rocco's operation, it's gotta be him."
Sarah frowned. "Reyes disappeared after Anton vanished. No one's heard from him since."
"That means he's either dead," Luca said, "or hiding."
Enzo smirked. "Let's hope it's the second one."
They gathered what they needed, maps, weapons, encrypted drives, and left the war room behind, sealing the vault door with a final mechanical hiss. As they ascended back into the city, the weight of what they were about to do settled heavily on their shoulders.
They emerged into the ruins of an old subway station beneath Brooklyn, long forgotten by time and the MTA. A rusted train sat on the tracks, its doors hanging open like the mouth of a beast waiting for prey.
They boarded without hesitation.
As the train groaned to life, Luca turned to Sarah.
"You knew Reyes too, didn't you?" he asked.
She met his gaze, expression unreadable. "I did."
Luca studied her carefully. "Then why haven't you told me anything about him until now?"
She exhaled slowly. "Because I wasn't sure if he could be trusted."
Luca narrowed his eyes. "And now?"
She gave a small, sad smile. "Now we don't have a choice."
Luca smirked coldly. "If it turns out he betrayed the Varga, I'll put a bullet in his skull."
The train came to a stop deep beneath Red Hook, in a station so abandoned it felt like stepping into another world. The air was thick with dust and mildew. The only light came from emergency bulbs flickering overhead like dying fireflies.
They stepped onto the platform cautiously, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the shadows.
A single figure waited at the far end of the station, tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in a heavy coat that smelled of gun oil and smoke.
Dominic Reyes.
Luca approached first, keeping his distance. "Didn't expect to find you here. I have a question, You still work for my grandfather?"
Reyes tilted his head slightly. "Anton was a good man. But he's gone."
Luca's jaw tightened. "That doesn't answer my question, mate."
Reyes took a slow step forward. "What do you want, kid?"
Luca held up the notebook. "I want to know what Anton left behind. And I intend to finish what he started."
Reyes studied him for a long moment. Then he smiled faintly. "You've got his fire."
Luca relaxed slightly. "Good. Because we need you."
Reyes glanced at the woman behind Luca, Sarah. "So she finally showed herself."
She gave a tight nod. "Some ghosts never die, Dominic."
Reyes chuckled dryly. "Yeah. Some just wait for the right time to haunt the living."
Luca cut through the tension. "We're building something. An army you could say. One that can take down Rocco."
Reyes' smile faded. "You think you can beat him? He's not just a Don anymore. He's a king."
Luca stepped closer. "Kings fall just like everyone else."
Reyes stared at him, then sighed. "Alright. I'll help. For now."
Luca extended his hand.
Reyes hesitated, just a second, but took it.
Behind them, Enzo watched carefully, fingers twitching near his holster.
Then the sound of boots echoed through the tunnel.
Heavy. Too many.
Luca spun around.
Dozens of men poured into the station, black suits, tactical gear, automatic weapons raised.
At the front stood Vince Lanza, smirking like a wolf that had cornered its prey.
"Sentimentality is cute," Vince called out. "But it gets people killed."
Luca cursed under his breath. "I knew it wasn't a coincidence we came across Dominic that easily."
He turned to Reyes.
The older man stood motionless, watching the enemy approach.
Luca's voice was low, urgent. "Big mistake betraying my grandfather like that don't you think?"
Reyes didn't look at him.
Instead, he stepped forward, away from Luca.
Toward Vince.
Luca's blood ran cold.
Reyes stopped beside Vince and gave a slow nod.
"I told you he'd come," Reyes said.
Luca staggered back like he'd been punched.
"I'll end you" he whispered.
Reyes looked at him, expression unreadable. "I'm sorry, kid."
Luca's grip tightened on the notebook. "You're a bastard."
Vince smirked. "Like I said. Sentimentality gets people killed."
The guns raised.
And the betrayal became blood.