Chapter 6 - The Last Cup of Coffee
Anthony Moretti was waiting inside the Iron Skillet when Dante returned.
Cass came through the kitchen entrance.
The diner remained damaged from the attack.
Sal had boarded the broken windows.
Anthony stood beside the counter.
“Dante.”
“Anthony.”
“You shouldn’t have come alone.”
“I didn’t.”
Anthony frowned.
Cass stepped out.
His expression changed.
“The waitress.”
Cass smiled.
“Everybody keeps saying that like it’s an insult.”
Anthony reached inside his coat.
Dante’s voice stopped him.
“Don’t.”
Anthony froze.
Dante placed Daniel’s ledger on the counter.
“You sold my location.”
Anthony stared at it.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand numbers.”
Dante tapped the ledger.
“And dates.”
Anthony’s fear became anger.
“You were destroying us.”
“I was keeping us alive.”
“You were making us weak!”
“No trafficking. No children. No civilians. No drugs near schools.”
Anthony laughed bitterly.
“Rules. Always rules.”
“They’re why we survived.”
“They’re why Victor became richer.”
Cass interrupted.
“And yet Victor needed thirty men to face Dante.”
Anthony looked at her.
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
Cass leaned against the counter.
“I ruined your ambush.”
A slow clap came from the entrance.
Victor Krell stepped inside.
Several remaining gunmen followed.
Dante looked at Anthony.
“You brought him here.”
Anthony backed toward Victor.
“I chose the future.”
Victor smiled.
“You chose correctly.”
Cass glanced around.
Fewer men this time.
Dante noticed too.
“Only six?”
Victor’s silver tooth appeared.
“You think this is funny?”
“I think your recruitment department has suffered.”
Victor aimed at Dante.
Cass moved slightly.
Victor immediately turned toward her.
“Don’t.”
Cass stopped.
“Hands where I can see them.”
She raised them.
Victor smiled.
“Much better.”
Sal suddenly walked from his office.
Everyone turned.
He carried a coffee pot.
Cass whispered, “Sal, no.”
Sal ignored her.
Victor pointed his weapon toward him.
“Old man, go back.”
Sal looked at Dante.
“Coffee?”
Dante stared at him.
Then smiled.
“Please.”
Sal poured a cup.
Victor’s face twisted.
“Are you people insane?”
Cass answered.
“Probably.”
Then police lights exploded through the boarded windows.
Victor turned.
Hayes’s voice came through a loudspeaker outside.
“Victor Krell! Drop your weapons!”
Victor stared at Anthony.
“You said the police were handled!”
Anthony went pale.
Cass smiled.
“Not anymore.”
Victor grabbed Anthony and pulled him in front of himself.
“You betrayed me!”
Anthony struggled.
“You betrayed me first!”
Dante remained calm.
“It’s finished, Victor.”
Victor looked around.
Police outside.
Moretti security approaching from the alley.
No escape.
His weapon slowly lowered.
Cass stepped closer.
“Daniel beat you.”
Victor glared at her.
“He’s dead.”
“Exactly.”
Cass held up Daniel’s evidence.
“And six years later, you’re still losing to him.”
Victor finally dropped his weapon.
Police entered.
Anthony was arrested with him.
As Victor passed Cass, he stopped.
“You think Moretti is a hero?”
Cass looked toward Dante.
“No.”
Then she faced Victor again.
“But tonight, he’s not the one going to jail.”
Victor was taken outside.
Silence returned to the Iron Skillet.
Sal looked around at the ruined diner.
Then at Dante.
“You’re paying for this.”
Dante nodded.
“Everything.”
“New windows.”
“Yes.”
“New booths.”
“Yes.”
“New breaker box.”
Cass cleared her throat.
Sal pointed at her.
“Especially the breaker box.”
Dante finally laughed.
Cass had never heard him laugh before.
May you like
She liked the sound.
---
