Page 6 of Veil of Obsession

The sound of the waves fills the air, crashing against the rocks angrily, as if questioning its confinement.

“Is something wrong, Lucio?”

“Yes. Umberto, Joseph, and I are the only ones at the docks waiting for the damn shipment. Aren’t there supposed to be more men?”

The light above me flickers before going out completely and bathing the area in darkness. Something eerie is going on. I can feel it in my fucking gut.

“Are you sure, Lucio? There should be at least thirty men lining the parameters with AKs, ready for anyone trying to pull something,” Matteo says.

Fuck. Something is definitely wrong.

“I’m sure, little brother. Only two of our men are actually on site. I need backup. The shipment is due in less than an hour and something fishy is going on around here, and I don’t mean the damn smell that’s coming out of the ocean. And there are two cars parked around a mile from here with tinted windows.”

“Right. I’ve sent in two units. Unit Six was meant to be there but I’ve sent in Unit Nine and Unit Three. Silvio and Mariano will be there in five minutes. Eli wants a status update once the units arrive, and again after the shipment is received.”

“Got it.” I cut the call without another word.

I need to stay focused. Be aware of my surroundings. I do a quick pass over the stretching landscape: concrete, large containers waiting to be filled and driven to warehouses, the unsettling silence of the docks.

I slip my phone into my pocket and keep a steady grip on my gun. Glancing over my shoulder, I double-check that no one is trying to sneak up on me. The docks are empty, but I sweep between the massive shipping containers, checking every shadow for movement.

After rounding the entire area, I head back to the entrance just as four military-grade SUVs pull up, Mariano and Silvio both stepping out in full bullet proof gear with their AKs strapped to their chests.

“Don’t tell me you thought you’d be able to take on someone who wanted to attack the shipment with that tiny fucking gun.” Mariano cocks his head to the side, as if mocking me.

The rest of the men file out of the SUVs quietly and spread out to secure the docks, each equipped with his own gun and bulletproof vest. This is fucking comical; they look like they’re in a movie or some shit.

“Don’t fucking piss me off. It’ll do its job if I want to put a bullet between your fucking eyes.” I take the AK that Silvio passes me.

“You wish, Folonari. I’m not some low-ranking soldier you can scare off with that kind of shit talk. Where’s Umberto and Joseph?” he asks, stepping past me, his eyes sweeping over the dark area.

“They were meant to be here, but methinks we have two little rats in our ranks,” I tell him, stuffing my 0.22 back in my waistband and checking the AK is loaded.

Mariano turns to look at me, that insane stare of his gleaming in his eyes. “So we’re going to have some fun tonight.” He turns to the two soldiers that stayed by his side. “Find Umberto and Joseph. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to squash some rats.”

They nod before they go off to search for the two slimy fucks.

A gunshot goes off close by, and everyone is on high alert. More shots fire, and we spot the twenty-odd intruders as they weave between the containers, trying to stay protected.

We’re being attacked from both sides. Fuck. Mariano and I go to assist the right side, while Silvio heads off to the left. Bullets whirl past us as we take cover.

This is going to get messy. Eh, at least I get to let off some steam.

I swing out from cover and unload on the bastard who fired at one of our own. Bullseye. The bullet embeds itself in his big-ass forehead and he falls to the ground. I press my back against the metal container and look at Mariano; the psycho fucker is smiling at me like it’s Christmas morning and he’s six.

We both nod at each other before we pop our heads out again and shoot. This time, I get a guy in the chest, but a bullet embeds itself in my fucking arm. I clench my jaw as the bullet rips its way through my flesh. Though it feels like it takes forever, we manage to push them back to the point where the last few try to run off, but the remainder of our soldiers round them.

One of the guys tries to run off, but Mariano tackles him to the ground and slashes his throat. Blood splatters all over him, soaking his face and clothes. The fucker loves a messy kill. You’d think he bathes in blood every morning with the way he smiles when the blood lands on his face. He doesn’t even bother wiping it off. Maniac.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Lucio

Age 17

I’m finally initiated into the Camorra and able to participate in important shit like my older brother. My fingers still ache from the ritual, from gripping the blade too tight.

I haven’t even had time to wrap my head around what it means—being in this thing for real—before Eli drags me out to the Rotten Apple for my first “proper” meeting. He walks ahead of me, phone pressed to his ear, voice low and sharp like he’s hiding something.