Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Daniel’s POV

What started as a routine sweep through the narcotics operations on Scout Hill had escalated into a bloodbath. Three dealers down, two of my men wounded - all because these street rats couldn’t follow simple orders to surrender. That punk Nick had been hiding in this cesspool, and I’d personally volunteered to lead this operation since one of our targets was connected to Thorne family business. We needed intel on this psychotic stalker who’d been terrorizing Gemma Valance.

The silver lining? No innocent blood spilled today. People love talking about collateral damage like it’s inevitable, but I know the truth - every bullet finds its intended mark when you’re disciplined enough. The nightmares come from the times when civilians get caught in crossfire. Today, at least, we kept it clean. One of Nick’s crew ended up in a body bag during the firefight, but we managed to take the other two breathing.

Six fewer parasites bleeding this city dry. Progress in my book.

"Wrap it up, boys!" The tactical unit commander who’d provided backup approached as his men loaded the cuffed suspects into armored transport vehicles. "Inspector Martinez, looks like we’ve concluded today’s festivities. The morgue wagon’s collected their cargo, and the wounded are already en route to the hospital."

"We’re done here, Commander, but the narcotics division will be pulling an all-nighter processing this mess," I replied, allowing myself a rare smile of satisfaction.

"No question about that. Unfortunately, my tactical teams will be tied up with evidence processing until the paperwork’s complete. My officers are already running on empty after this operation," he sighed, wiping sweat from his brow.

I nodded in understanding as my encrypted phone started buzzing against my chest.

"Martinez here," I answered without glancing at the screen. "Dominic? You sound rattled." My entire body went rigid as Dominic’s panicked voice explained that Gemma had gone to meet Nick alone, abandoning her security protocol. Reckless woman. "Breathe, Dominic. I’m still on site at Scout Hill. I’ll have Adler run a trace on Nick’s device immediately. I’ll contact you the moment we have coordinates."

I immediately contacted Adler for the location ping, and to my complete shock, the target signal was originating right here on Scout Hill. Today might actually be the day we finally put this deranged stalker in the ground permanently.

"Commander!" I jogged over to his command vehicle. "I need backup for one additional arrest. Just discovered our primary target is somewhere in this area."

"Another guest for our detention facility," the commander stepped out, suddenly re-energized. "Although, is there a chance he’s already among the suspects we’ve secured?"

"Possible. I don’t have visual confirmation on him. Let me pull up his photograph." I contacted Adler, who transmitted an image to my secure phone. I displayed the screen to the commander, whose weathered face broke into an unexpected grin.

"Inspector Martinez, we won’t need to climb back up that hill. That particular individual has already been collected today," he stated with complete confidence.

"He’s secured in one of the transport vehicles?" I asked, thinking the timing seemed impossibly convenient.

"Not exactly. He’s secured in the coroner’s van," the commander responded without any hesitation.

"You’re telling me he’s dead? I need visual confirmation immediately." I approached the morgue transport driver. "Do you have positive identification on the bodies you’ve collected?"

"Absolutely, Inspector. Two were identified by their mothers on scene - heartbreaking situation. These young men choose this violent path, leaving their families to mourn the consequences." The driver shook his head with genuine sadness.

"And the third casualty?" I pressed, my impatience growing.

"Had identification documents in his jacket pocket." The driver retrieved a sealed evidence bag from inside the transport van. "Here’s everything. These two mobile phones were also recovered from the body."

I examined the identification card meticulously - it belonged to Nick. The coincidence seemed absolutely impossible. I needed to see the corpse with my own eyes.

"Open the transport. I need to examine the body personally," I instructed firmly.

The driver complied without question, opening the rear doors, sliding out the metal drawer, and unzipping the black vinyl body bag.

I compared the lifeless face with the photograph on my phone multiple times. If someone had pitched this scenario as a movie plot, I would have called it unrealistic fiction. Yet here I stood, staring at undeniable evidence. We’d been hunting this dangerous stalker for weeks, and he happens to die in a tactical operation where we weren’t even specifically targeting him? The timing was almost suspiciously perfect.

"Seal him up. You can transport him," I instructed the driver. The commander had been observing from several feet away.

"What are the mathematical odds of something like this occurring?" he marveled, clearly impressed by the bizarre coincidence.

"Astronomical, Commander. But nobody’s going to shed tears over this particular scumbag," I remarked, clasping his hand in gratitude for the tactical unit’s professional assistance.

I drove back to the precinct without immediately contacting Dominic. I knew Gemma was secure - they’d located her before any dangerous meeting could take place. At headquarters, I briefed Adler on the situation, whose amazement matched my own bewilderment. Then I called Dominic, wanting Gemma to provide positive identification. With dangerous criminals like Nick, you never take chances or assume anything. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Dominic, my friend, I have news that should put your mind at ease permanently," I began when he picked up.

"Daniel, seeing Gemma return safely is relief enough for me. She just arrived back at the office," Dominic replied, his voice noticeably steadier now. "Were you able to apprehend Nick?"

"Not exactly what you’d call an arrest. Nick is dead," I stated matter-of-factly before explaining the entire surreal situation. "That’s the complete story - caught in our Scout Hill narcotics sweep and killed during the firefight. But I’d appreciate if you’d escort Gemma here to provide positive identification. This coincidence feels too convenient, and I want absolute certainty we’re not declaring the wrong man deceased."

"Understood completely. We’re departing now. Thank you, Daniel." After we disconnected, I looked across at Adler seated at his desk.

"Adler, didn’t the surveillance unit monitoring Nick report his movements according to protocol?" I asked, recalling our explicit standing orders - if Nick moved from his location, they were to notify us immediately and maintain visual contact.

"Negative," Adler glanced at his ringing phone and shot me a knowing look. "And speaking of suspicious timing - it’s them calling now." He answered on speaker mode, maintaining direct eye contact with me. "Go ahead, Detective Pace."

"Inspector Martinez, the target just exited his apartment building. We attempted pursuit but lost visual - he entered a vehicle and fled at high speed. Lost him in downtown traffic," Detective Pace reported, the deception painfully transparent in his voice.

"How extremely unfortunate," Adler replied, feigning professional disappointment. "Return to headquarters immediately so we can coordinate a strategy to locate him."

"Sir, wouldn’t it be more tactically sound to maintain our surveillance position? There’s a possibility he might return to his residence," Detective Pace pressed, clearly stalling.

"Negative, Detective Pace. Report to headquarters immediately. I seriously doubt he’ll be returning to that location," Adler insisted with unmistakable authority.

"Yes, Inspector. You’re in command," Pace conceded reluctantly before terminating the call.

"Those corrupt sons of bitches! They deliberately enabled his escape!" I slammed my fist down on the desk, fury coursing through my veins.

"Deeply disappointing behavior. Pace is a veteran officer - should definitely know better than this. I’ll be filing a formal complaint with Internal Affairs immediately," Adler sighed heavily, shaking his head. "When they arrive for debriefing, we’ll apply maximum pressure until someone breaks and tells us the truth."