Chapter 8 - The Confrontation
“It’s a setup!” the accountant shrieked, struggling against Lorenzo’s grip.
Costa lunged across the table.
Matteo stepped through the boardroom doors, holding a suppressed pistol, but he didn't point it at Costa. He pointed it at the ceiling.
“Everyone remains calm,” Matteo said pleasantly.
Lorenzo released the accountant, calmly unplugged the hard drive, and tossed it back across the table. It clattered against Costa’s chest.
“Keep it,” Lorenzo said. “I already have what I need.”
Costa stared at the drive, then at Lorenzo, the realization dawning on his face. “You copied it. You copied my ledgers.”
“Actually, my CFO copied them,” Lorenzo corrected, adjusting his cuffs. “She works very fast.”
Costa’s face twisted into a mask of pure hatred. “You think you can blackmail me? I have judges in my pocket. I have politicians. I’ll have you dead before you can decrypt a single file.”
The intercom on Lorenzo’s desk buzzed. Chloe’s voice echoed through the boardroom.
“Actually, Mr. Costa, I didn't blackmail you. I sent the unencrypted routing data to the FBI Field Office five seconds ago. By my calculations, their financial task force is currently raiding your Manhattan offices.”
Costa froze.
“You broke the rules,” Costa whispered, his voice trembling with shock. “We handle our own. We don't go to the feds.”
“I am a legitimate businessman,” Lorenzo said, standing up. He towered over Costa, the dark, lethal aura of the Sicilian boss fully unleashed. “I pay my taxes. I provide health insurance. And when a criminal tries to extort my company, I report it to the proper authorities.”
Sirens began to wail in the distance, echoing up from the Chicago streets far below.
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“They’re coming for you, Vinnie,” Lorenzo said softly. “You have exactly three minutes to get out of my building before I let Matteo throw you out the window.”
Costa looked at Lorenzo, then at Matteo. He grabbed the briefcase, turned, and ran.
