Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Syndicate
Silvio Vance was a man who prided himself on noticing the smallest details.
He had served as Luca Costello's underboss for fifteen years.
He had been the one to catch Luca when he collapsed on that fateful night twelve years ago.
He had also been the one to pay the rogue chemist for the synthetic neurotoxin that caused the collapse.
Silvio sat in his leather chair in the downtown headquarters, reviewing the syndicate's financial ledgers.
His trusted enforcer, a hulking man named Rossi, stepped into the office.
"Boss, we have a situation at the Costello estate," Rossi rumbled.
Silvio did not look up from the paperwork.
"Speak," Silvio commanded.
"Luca has changed his medical routine," Rossi reported.
"He dismissed his regular physician and brought in some specialist from Europe on a private jet."
Silvio's pen stopped moving across the paper.
"What kind of specialist?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Neurology and toxicology," Rossi replied.
A cold drop of sweat rolled down Silvio's spine.
For twelve years, the lie had held perfectly.
Luca was supposed to remain a brilliant, paralyzed king sitting on a stationary throne.
If Luca was investigating toxicology, it meant the veil was lifting.
"There is something else," Rossi added, shifting his massive weight.
"There is a woman at the estate now, a housekeeper named Elena Harper."
"She has a kid, a little girl who spends all day with Luca on the porch."
Silvio finally looked up, his eyes narrowing into cold, reptilian slits.
He remembered Elena Harper from the surveillance reports twelve years ago.
She was the distraction Luca had indulged in right before the poisoning.
If Luca had a child, he had an heir.
If he had an heir, Silvio's claim to the throne was completely destroyed.
"Luca is getting soft," Silvio muttered, standing up and buttoning his tailored suit jacket.
"He is looking to the past, which means he is neglecting the future."
Rossi crossed his arms.
"What do you want to do about it, Silvio?"
"We need to clean up the loose ends before they strangle us," Silvio declared coldly.
"Take a team to the estate tonight."
May you like
"Make it look like a rival crew hit the woman and the kid."
"I want them gone before sunrise."
