Chapter 7 - The Ghost of Pier 14
Victor Vance didn't carry a weapon in his hand, but the two men behind him kept their right hands tucked deep into their coat pockets.
"Dante Moretti," Victor said, his voice like gravel grinding together. "I heard you made quite a scene at the Aurelia last night."
Dante didn't move an inch. He placed himself casually in front of Elena, his hands resting naturally at his sides. "You're trespassing on city property, Vance."
Victor let out a dry, hollow laugh. "City property? My grandfather built these docks with his own hands before your father was even born. The city took it with corrupt paperwork, and now your little architect wife thinks she's going to turn my shipping yards into a children's playground?"
"It’s not your shipping yard anymore, Victor," Elena said, stepping out from behind Dante despite his subtle hand warning her to stay back. "The land was legally purchased by the municipality three years ago. The deeds are public record."
Victor’s cold blue eyes locked onto Elena, evaluating her with a terrifying lack of emotion.
"Deeds are just paper, little lady," Victor said softly. "Down here on the water, paper burns very easily."
"Touch one blade of grass on this project, Victor," Dante warned, his voice soft, low, and laced with absolute lethargy that signaled dangerous intent, "and I won't just take your land. I will tear down every asset, every house, and every company bearing the Vance name in this state."
Victor’s scar twitched. "You think you're your father, Dante? Old man Moretti had teeth. You... you've gone soft. You're marrying architects and dining at gala halls with politicians."
Victor stepped closer, stopping five feet away.
"I'm giving you one warning, Moretti," Victor whispered. "Pull her company off this bid by Friday. Or the first foundation poured at Haven Point will be filled with something you can't dig up."
Victor turned around, gesturing for his men to follow him back to the silver truck.
Elena watched the truck speed away into the fog, her heart pounding against her ribs. She looked at Dante. His expression was completely unreadable—the face of a man who had stepped back into a world he had spent five years trying to leave behind.
"Dante..." Elena whispered.
Dante looked at her, his dark eyes instantly softening as he took her hand into his. "Don't worry, Elena."
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"He threatened the project," she said. "He threatened us."
"No," Dante said coldly, watching the fog where Vance's truck had disappeared. "He just made the worst mistake of his life."
