Chapter 5 - Toxins and Truths
At dawn, Dr. Vance returned to the room, holding a printed lab report. His face was grim.
"The synthetic agent used on Leo," Vance said, placing the paper on the steel table. "It's a specialized compound. Military grade, imported through European channels. It's designed to decompose rapidly in the bloodstream, leaving no trace during a standard autopsy. It would have looked like a sudden heart failure caused by his congenital defect."
Damian stood up, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Who produces it?"
"It’s manufactured by a private chemical firm in Rotterdam," Vance replied. "Controlled strictly. Only three syndicates in North America have access to those distribution lines."
"The Moretti family," Damian said cold.
"And one of your own inner circle," Vance added quietly. "Damian... the dose was calibrated specifically to match Leo’s body weight and medical history. Whoever ordered this had access to Leo’s private medical files from your home safe."
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room.
Maya looked between Damian and Vance. "Someone inside your house? Someone who works for you?"
Damian didn't answer immediately. He turned to the heavy glass window overlooking the manicured grounds of the estate. Rain was still falling, turning the green lawn into a gray marsh.
"Luca," Damian murmured.
Elias walked into the room, his phone in hand. "Boss. Luca just called. He says he’s secured the Manhattan accounts and wants to meet at the docks at 8:00 a.m. to 'discuss our response' to the attack."
Damian didn't flinch. "Luca has been my underboss for eight years. His father served my father."
"His father didn't have thirty million dollars in offshore debts from Macao gambling houses," Elias said quietly, handing Damian a folder. "Our financial intelligence unit pulled these an hour ago. Luca was broke. The Moretti family offered to clear his debt and grant him control of the Brooklyn piers if you were... displaced."
"And removing Leo was the first step," Maya realized aloud, her stomach turning. "If Leo died, you would be blinded by grief. Unstable. Easy to ambushing."
Damian turned back to face them. The warmth that had been in his eyes when speaking to Maya was gone, replaced by the chilling, ruthless intellect that had made him the most feared man on the Eastern Seaboard.
"Luca thinks Leo is dying in Lenox Hill right now," Damian said. "He thinks I am broken."
He looked at Maya, his expression softening just a fraction. "Maya, I need you and Leo to remain here. This house is a fortress. Thirty armed men are on the perimeter."
May you like
"Where are you going?" Maya asked, stepping forward instinctively.
"To finalize a business deal," Damian said smoothly.
