Chapter 8 - The Archives of Betrayal
Michael stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the hardwood floor.
"Luca, let's not do something we're going to regret," he said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.
"We can talk about restructuring the partnership."
"There is no partnership left to restructure, Michael," I said, my voice deadpan and cold.
"You attempted to usurp the syndicate charter by marrying my betrothed behind my back."
"You conspired to eliminate me during our honeymoon to seize fifty percent of my holdings."
"And you harassed my sister in her own home."
"Under family law, that is classified as high treason."
Michael’s expression hardened from panic into dangerous desperation.
He reached inside his tailored jacket toward his shoulder holster.
"You should have just stayed in your study with your shipping manifests, Luca," Michael snarled, his hand gripping the grip of his concealed firearm.
Before his fingers could clear the leather holster, the side doors of the dining room flew open.
Daniel and four tactical guards rushed into the room.
Eight black barrels pointed directly at Michael’s chest.
Michael froze instantly, his hand still trapped inside his jacket.
"Take your hand out very slowly, Michael," Daniel ordered, his voice echoing off the walls.
Michael slowly withdrew his empty hand, glaring at me with unadulterated fury.
"You think you've won, Luca?" Michael spat.
"The syndicate board in New York already knows I'm here."
"If I don't check in by noon, my associates will release the encrypted files on your offshore accounts to federal authorities."
I walked around the table until I stood inches away from him.
"Your associates in New York?" I asked calmly.
"You mean the three men you hired from the Brooklyn docks?"
Michael’s eyes widened in sudden disbelief.
"How do you know about them?"
"Daniel intercepted their communications at O'Hare airport three hours ago," I replied.
"They are currently tied up in a shipping container heading back to the Atlantic."
Vanessa slumped back into her chair, realizing the magnitude of their total defeat.
She looked at Michael with disgust, her voice dripping with venom.
"You assured me the security system was foolproof, Michael."
"You said Luca was too blind to notice a missing box of trash!"
"Shut up, Vanessa!" Michael barked, turning on her with raw anger.
"This was your idea!"
"You were the one who insisted on stealing the sister's letters so she wouldn't call the house!"
"You both contributed magnificently to your own destruction," I interrupted, stepping back toward my chair.
"Daniel."
"Yes, boss?"
"Escort Mr. Dawson and Miss Bellini down to the estate archives."
"Lock them in the secure vault until the evening transport arrives."
"Where are you sending us, Luca?" Vanessa cried out, tears of genuine terror streaming down her face, ruining her makeup.
"Not to prison," I said quietly.
May you like
"Prisons are for criminals who have rights."
"You are going to a place where nobody will ever hear you scream for help."
