Chapter 4 - Into the Lion's Den
Salvatore’s estate was a sprawling stone mansion hidden behind wrought-iron gates in the affluent northern suburbs.
Tessa arrived in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, escorted inside by heavily armed men in immaculate suits.
The dining room was a terrifying assembly of Chicago’s most powerful and dangerous underground figures.
The air was thick with cigar smoke, tension, and the low murmur of men negotiating millions in illicit deals.
Tessa moved like a ghost, pouring wine and clearing plates without making a single sound.
Suddenly, her blood ran cold as she recognized a face at the far end of the long mahogany table.
It was Victor Vance, the ruthless loan shark who had recently bought out the medical debt of several local hospitals.
He was the monster threatening to seize her family’s small apartment if she missed another payment.
Her hands shook uncontrollably as she poured his whiskey, the crystal decanter rattling against the glass.
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Victor looked up, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he recognized the desperate girl from the city.
Before he could open his mouth to humiliate her, Salvatore’s fist slammed onto the table, silencing the entire room.
