Chapter 4 - Beneath the River
The boathouse sat on the southern boundary of the Romano acreage, an imposing structure of rotted pine and rusted corrugated iron that had been padlocked since the autumn of 2002. Rain had begun to fall, drumming a steady rhythm against the metal roof as Damian, flanked by Luca and four trusted soldiers, forced open the side doors.
Corrado marched ahead of them, his hands zip-tied behind his back, guarded by Luca’s drawn pistol. In the center of the wet concrete floor rested the slip where Anthony's boat had once been moored, now filled with murky, stagnant river water.
"Where is the entrance, Uncle?" Damian asked, shining a tactical flashlight across the damp walls.
"You're making a mistake, nephew," Corrado spat, rain dripping from his gray eyebrows. "You think Anthony was a saint? He was losing his mind. He wanted to liquidate the family assets, leave Pennsylvania, hand over sixty years of empire to federal prosecutors in exchange for witness protection. He would have ruined all of us."
"So you locked him in a cage for twenty-two years?" Damian’s voice was venomous.
"I didn't kill him!" Corrado snarled. "I couldn't bring myself to do it. He was my brother. I kept him down there... fed him, gave him medicine, kept him safe from the Castellanos."
"You kept him as leverage," Damian said. "In case the street bosses ever turned against you."
Damian approached the rusted industrial winch bolted to the north wall. On its steel base plate was a heavy combination dial, rusted orange with age. He cleared the dirt with his sleeve and dialed the four numbers of his own birthday: *1 - 0 - 2 - 4.*
A heavy thud echoed beneath the concrete. With a screech of tortured iron, a four-foot section of the floor grating shifted back, revealing a narrow flight of stone steps descending into impenetrable darkness. A draft of damp, cool air rushed upward, carrying the faint, unmistakable smell of tallow candles, river mud, and antiseptic.
May you like
Damian drew his weapon and started down the stairs.
***
