Chapter 4 - The Shadow Within the Inner Circle
The private study had transformed into an interrogation room.
The heavy curtains were drawn, shutting out the storm. A single industrial desk lamp cast harsh shadows across the walls. Seated in a heavy leather chair in the center of the room was Lieutenant Colin.
Colin was a mountain of a man with a thick beard and broad shoulders, but right now, sweat was beading heavily on his forehead. His hands were bound behind the chair with heavy industrial zip ties, and two armed enforcers stood silently behind him.
The door opened, and Alessandro walked in.
He didn't yell. He didn't slam doors. He walked with the slow, measured stride of an executioner approaching the guillotine. He poured a finger of amber bourbon into a heavy crystal glass, took a slow sip, and set it down on the desk.
"Colin," Alessandro said softly.
"Boss," Colin swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "What is this about? Why am I tied up? I’ve served the Moretti family for fifteen years—"
"Fifteen years," Alessandro interrupted, leaning against the edge of the desk, looking down at his former enforcer. "You were there when we took the Brooklyn docks. You took a bullet in the shoulder for my father. I trusted you with the security codes to this estate."
"I am loyal, Boss! You know I—"
"Then why," Alessandro cut in, his voice dropping an octave into a terrifying whisper, "did the maintenance logs for the eastern gate cameras show an administrative override using your security keycard at 11:42 PM last night?"
Colin’s breath caught in his throat. The color drained completely from his face.
The room fell dead silent, save for the muffled rumble of thunder outside.
"I... I lost my keycard," Colin stammered desperately, his eyes darting toward the armed enforcers. "Someone must have lifted it from my locker during shift change! It wasn't me, Alessandro! You have to believe me!"
Alessandro didn't blink. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a small, encrypted burner phone, and tossed it onto the desk in front of Colin.
"Marco recovered this from your quarters thirty minutes ago," Alessandro said smoothly. "Encrypted messaging app. Last outgoing ping: 11:45 PM. Recipient: Don Salvatore Santoro."
Colin stared at the phone as if it were a venomous snake. The lie dissolved instantly, leaving behind a pathetic, shivering man facing the wrath of a syndicate king.
"They... they found out about her," Colin sobbed, breaking down as he slumped forward in the chair. "The Santoros, Boss! They found out Rosa was Victoria Rossi. They called me two days ago. They said if I didn't disable the eastern gate sensors and give them the window, they would expose my past debts, leak my offshore accounts, and kill my family. I didn't want to hurt Rosa! I swear I just thought they were going to question her, not—"
"Not what?" Alessandro’s voice was lethal. "Not kidnap the mother of my child and leave her blood on my asphalt?"
Colin shook his head frantically, tears spilling over his cheeks. "Please, Alessandro. Have mercy. For old times' sake—"
Alessandro straightened up. He looked at Marco.
"Take him down to the shipping yards in sector four," Alessandro ordered coldly. "Feed him to the fishes."
"No! No, wait! Alessandro, please! I can tell you where they took her! They have a safehouse in Queens! An abandoned meatpacking plant near the waterfront! Please!" Colin screamed as the enforcers hauled him up by his arms, dragging him toward the door.
Alessandro watched him go without a flicker of emotion.
"Marco," Alessandro said as his second-in-command paused at the door.
May you like
"Boss?"
"Gather fifty men. Heavy artillery. We're going to Queens."
