Chapter 6 - ENTERING THE LION’S DEN
The wind howled through the pine branches outside.
Inside the cabin, the wood-burning stove crackled with warm orange flames.
Marcus sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of black coffee.
I slid a flash drive across the wood toward him.
“This contains your new identity documents, a Swiss bank account routing number, and a flight manifest leaving for Zurich at 6:00 AM tomorrow,” I told him.
Marcus picked up the flash drive, staring at it as if it were made of glass.
“You actually prepared this beforehand,” he murmured in disbelief.
“I prepare for every contingency, Marcus,” I replied, leaning against the counter.
“Unlike Vincent, who relies entirely on intimidation and blind loyalty.”
“He’s mobilizing every enforcer in the Midwest,” Marcus warned, pocketing the drive.
“He thinks you’re hiding in a hotel in downtown Chicago.”
“He has no idea you’re sitting in an isolated cabin three hours away.”
“He will by morning,” I said calmly.
“Because we are going to send him a message.”
Marcus frowned.
“What kind of message?”
“A public one.”
I opened my laptop and connected the physical ledger to a high-resolution scanner.
Page by page, I digitized Vincent’s handwritten confessions.
“You’re leaking it to the press?” Marcus asked, his eyes widening.
“Not just the press,” I smiled coldly.
“To the federal task force investigating his shipping ports.”
“Once the FBI has verified signatures, federal judges will issue arrest warrants for every asset he owns.”
“His bank accounts will freeze by noon tomorrow.”
“His casinos will be raided by federal marshals before sunset.”
“And the great Vincent Moretti will wake up tomorrow morning to find his entire empire dismantled by his unassuming wife.”
Marcus stared at me with a mixture of terror and profound respect.
“You’re more dangerous than he ever was, Claire.”
“No, Marcus,” I corrected him.
“I’m just more patient.”
Suddenly, the cabin lights flickered and died.
May you like
Total darkness plunged the room into shadow.
Outside, the low rumble of multiple car engines echoed through the quiet forest.
