Chapter 3 - The Gathering Storm
Gabriel's surveillance team traced the encrypted signal to a warehouse in the industrial district.
The property belonged to the Romanos, a rival family I had exiled from Chicago a decade ago.
It all made perfect, terrible sense now.
The Romanos had the money and the manpower, but they lacked inside access to my estate.
Victor was their golden key to the kingdom.
I stood in my command center, watching live drone footage of the warehouse perimeter.
"Do we strike tonight, Boss?" Gabriel asked, his hands resting on his tactical belt.
"No," I replied, my eyes fixed on the glowing monitors.
"If we kill them now, Victor's loyalists within our own ranks will scatter and hide."
"I want every single traitor in one room before I burn the house down."
I walked back to the secure guest suite to check on Elena and Sophia.
Elena was reading a book, while Sophia was sitting on the floor with her crayons.
"Are you comfortable, Sophia?" I asked, kneeling down to her eye level.
She looked up, her bright eyes completely devoid of fear.
"Mr. Victor is a bad man," she stated plainly.
"Yes, he is," I agreed, amazed by her simple, piercing clarity.
She handed me a new drawing.
It was a sketch of a black car with a very specific, customized silver hood ornament.
"I saw this car outside the kitchen window yesterday," Sophia explained softly.
I recognized the hood ornament instantly.
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It belonged to Carlo Romano, the youngest and most vicious son of the Romano family.
Victor was not just conspiring over the phone; he was bringing my enemies directly to my front door.
