A hundred and eighty-seven people watched Chicago’s most feared mafia boss roll backward into twelve feet of freezing water—and not one of them screamed. / Chapter 3 / 10

Chapter 3 - The Traitor in the FamilyThe fire crackled softly in the hearth, throwing long, distorted shadows across the oak-paneled walls of Julian’s study. The smell of wet wool and woodsmoke hung heavy in the air.

"You think Victoria tried to kill you," I said, stating it not as a question, but as a logical deduction from the tension that had just filled the room.

Julian picked up his glass of scotch again, swirling the amber liquid slowly. "Victoria lacks the stomach for a clean coup, but she has the ambition of a dynasty. For twenty-six months—ever since the bomb—she has been whispering in the ears of our capos, telling them that a paralyzed boss is a liability, that the syndicate cannot be run from a wheelchair."

"And the councilman?" I asked, recalling the whispered conversation right before the chair went over the edge. "He was talking to her about port expansion contracts just before you turned your chair. That’s not a coincidence."

A dark, approving glint flashed in Julian’s eyes. "Sharp. Very sharp. Councilman Miller is deep in Victoria’s pocket. She promised him exclusive zoning rights for the new waterfront district in exchange for backing her temporary regency if I were to... permanently step down."

"She didn't want you dead just for control," I realized, the pieces clicking together in my mind. "She wanted you dead so nobody could investigate the corruption at Dock 4. Leo found something down there—some kind of ledger or contraband run that connected Victoria’s private accounts directly to the smuggling ring."

Julian leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Which means your brother might still be alive, Maya. Leverage is currency in our world. If Leo has what Victoria is hiding, she wouldn't execute him immediately; she would stash him somewhere until she found the files."

Hope flared in my chest, hot and sharp, cutting through the chill of the lake water that still seemed to cling to my bones. "Where would she keep him? This estate is massive, but it’s crawling with guards."

"Not everywhere," Julian murmured. "The old carriage house behind the north gardens. It was converted into a secure communications archive years ago. It has its own biometric lock, and only Victoria and I have the override codes."

"Then we need to get inside," I said, standing up from the armchair, wrapping the wool blanket tighter around my shoulders.

Julian looked up at me, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You move fast, Ms. Hayes. Most people would be hiding under the bed after discovering they’re trapped in a mafia fortress."

"Most people don't have a brother missing in your backyard," I retorted sharply. "When do we move?"

"Tonight," Julian said. "At midnight, Victoria hosts a private dinner with Councilman Miller and three senior capos in the main dining hall. Everyone will be distracted. But first..." He reached into his desk drawer and slid a sleek, black keycard across the polished mahogany. "You need proper clothes. Check the walk-in closet in the adjoining guest suite. There’s a tactical jumpsuit and a secure comms earpiece waiting for you."

I stared at the keycard, then back at Julian. "Why are you trusting me so easily? I could take this keycard, find a phone, and call the federal marshals right now."

Julian’s gaze hardened into something ancient and absolute. "You could. But the moment federal marshals raid this house, Victoria’s first order of business will be having her clean-up crew eliminate any loose ends—starting with a locked-away shipping clerk named Leo Hayes. You need me alive to find your brother, Maya. And I need someone who isn't on Victoria’s payroll to watch my blind spots."