Chapter 27 - The Checkmate
I threw the black folder onto the center of the circular table.
It landed with a heavy, satisfying thud.
Russo reached forward, opening the file slowly.
"What is this, little girl?" Victoria sneered, though her confidence faltered slightly.
"That is a heavily documented trail of offshore bank accounts," I explained smoothly.
"Over the last five years, Victoria hasn't just been hiding."
"She has been funneling money directly from the Russian cartel to fund a hostile takeover of this very Syndicate."
The room went dead silent.
Russo's eyes scanned the documents, his face turning an alarming shade of purple.
Victoria's jaw dropped, her perfectly painted lips parting in absolute horror.
"That's a lie!" Victoria screamed, pointing a shaking finger at me.
"Where did a glorified babysitter get financial documents from the cartel?"
I smiled, leaning back comfortably in my chair.
"You forget who you used to employ, Victoria," I said casually.
"Marcus might be locked in a federal prison, but he was more than happy to trade your secrets for a better cell block."
Adrian looked at me, completely stunned, a massive wave of pride washing over his face.
I had visited Marcus in prison three days ago, using my juvenile detention credentials to get a private meeting.
I offered him protection for his little brother on the outside in exchange for Victoria's real agenda.
Russo closed the folder, pulling a heavy silver revolver from his jacket and placing it gently on the table.
"You brought the Russians into our city?" Russo asked Victoria, his voice dangerously soft.
Victoria backed away toward the door, realizing she had walked directly into a trap.
"She forged those!" Victoria cried out desperately.
"By Syndicate law, treason is punishable by permanent exile, or death," Russo ignored her, looking at Adrian.
"She is no longer your problem, Adrian."
"We will handle the ghost."
Adrian stood up, taking my hand in his.
May you like
"Make sure she never casts a shadow in my city again," Adrian commanded.
We walked out of the basement, leaving Victoria screaming for mercy that she would never receive.
