Chapter 2 - The Inner Circle’s Shadow
"Four people," Dr. Elias Reed answered, keeping his voice steady and low. "Marcus Bell, Daniel Cross, Anthony Graves, and Sophia Rossi. And, of course, young Emma."
Lorenzo DeLuca did not flinch, though the movement strained the freshly stitched muscle above his heart. His eyes, usually as cold and unreadable as polished river stone, narrowed slightly. Eleven years. For eleven years, Vincent Romano had sat at his right hand, managed his finances, negotiated treaties with the five families, and poured his scotch at sunset.
"Vincent believes he has won," Lorenzo murmured, his voice raspy from lack of water. "He thinks removing me eliminates the board. He forgets that I built the board."
"Vincent has already scheduled an emergency syndicate meeting at the Manhattan headquarters for tomorrow night," Marcus Bell said, stepping into the bedroom from the hallway. His face was grim, a map of old scars and hard-earned discipline. "He’s telling the captains that you were ambushed by a rival faction from Boston. He wants total control of the shipping lanes and the real estate portfolio."
"Let him schedule it," Lorenzo said, shifting his weight against the pillow. "A man who rushes to inherit a throne often forgets to check if the floorboards are nailed down."
Sophia entered the room quietly, carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming broth and a glass of water. She set it gently on the nightstand. She looked at Lorenzo with a mix of deep gratitude and lingering fear. She was a maid, a mother who lived on the margins of this violent world, yet she was now the keeper of its most dangerous secret.
"Mr. DeLuca, you shouldn't talk so much yet," Sophia said softly, her hands resting nervously on her apron. "Your shoulder is still weak."
Lorenzo looked up at her. For the first time, a flicker of genuine warmth softened his expression. "Sophia. If not for you and your daughter, I would be food for the crabs at the bottom of the Sound right now. You saved my life."
"Emma found you," Sophia corrected. "I only made the phone call."
"Emma used her toy scissors to try to free me," Lorenzo replied, a faint, rare smile touching the corners of his mouth. "That makes her the bravest soldier in my army."
May you like
Outside the window, the Queens afternoon turned into twilight. In the city across the river, Vincent Romano was raising a glass of expensive bourbon, celebrating the death of a ghost. But in the safe house, a counter-strategy was taking shape. Marcus opened a encrypted laptop on the desk, displaying blueprints of the Manhattan headquarters, while Daniel Cross began downloading intercepted communications from Vincent's private server.
The trap was set, but the bait was the most dangerous man in New York.
