Chapter 7 - THE RIVAL'S ULTIMATUM
Morning broke over the Pocono Mountains in pale blue and gold.
Downstairs in the estate's command center, Silas stood before a bank of security monitors, his face grim as Victor briefed him on the previous night's events.
"Moretti knows we survived the airstrip," Victor reported, placing a satellite radio on the table. "He just called on the encrypted line. He wants a meet."
Silas picked up the radio, his thumb pressing the talk button. "Moretti."
"Costello," a raspy, arrogant voice boomed through the speaker. "I hear your little plane had a rough landing. Shame about the cargo."
"You targeted my family, Antonio," Silas said, his voice dropping into a deadly, sub-zero whisper. "You broke the Chicago accord."
"The accord died the moment your wife was buried, Silas!" Antonio Moretti sneered. "You've grown soft. You’re running around with a broken kid who can't even speak his own name. Hand over the riverport shipping licenses by midnight tonight, or I will bring eighty men to that mountain house and burn it to the ground with everyone inside."
The line went dead with a harsh burst of static.
Silas stood frozen, his hand crushing the plastic housing of the radio until it cracked.
"Boss?" Victor asked softly. "We have twenty armed men here. We can fortify the estate."
"No," Silas said, his eyes burning with cold, calculating fury. "Moretti thinks I'm defensive because I have my son with me. He thinks Mateo is my vulnerability."
He turned toward the doorway, where Khloe was standing, having brought down a tray of hot coffee.
"Moretti doesn't understand," Silas said, walking toward Khloe, his eyes locked on hers. "Mateo isn't my weakness. He is the reason I will never lose."
He looked at Khloe. "I have to end this tonight, Khloe. I have to go to the riverport and wipe Moretti's organization out so my son can grow up without looking over his shoulder."
"Then let me take Mateo to a secure location," Khloe urged, setting the tray down. "Don't leave him here if Moretti knows the address."
"I have a safehouse in downtown Philadelphia," Silas said. "Victor will drive you and Mateo there under heavy guard. Once I settle this with Moretti, I will come for you."
Mateo suddenly ran into the room, holding a drawing he had made with colored pencils. He ran straight to Silas, tugging on his trousers, and held up the paper.
It was a drawing of three people holding hands under a blue airplane: a large man with dark hair, a small boy, and a girl with blonde hair.
Silas knelt down, his eyes scanning the simple drawing. He looked up at Mateo, then at Khloe.
May you like
He took his son into his arms, pressing a deep kiss into the boy's hair, then stood up and faced Khloe.
"Keep him safe," Silas whispered, reaching out to cup her cheek with his warm palm. "I will come back to both of you. I swear it."
