Chapter 6 - The Unholy Alliance
The reception in the grand ballroom of the estate was not the joyous celebration they had envisioned, but it carried a different, more profound weight. It was a demonstration of absolute survival. The orchestra played their classical melodies, the champagne flowed, and the guests toasted the new Russo family with a respect that bordered on terror. Dominic had proved, before the eyes of the entire commission, that his house was impenetrable.
But behind the locked doors of his study, the atmosphere was dark.
Dominic stood by the window, a glass of untouched scotch in his hand, watching the headlights of the guests' cars as they departed the property under heavy security escort. Elena sat in the leather chair across from the desk, her wedding gown changed for a simple silk wrap, her laptop open before her.
"The Chicago accounts are shifting, Dominic," Elena said, her eyes tracking the numerical arrays on the screen. "Vittorio Valenti hasn't responded to Santino’s message yet, but his financial directors are moving money out of their New York shell companies. They’re liquidating their assets at a loss. They’re preparing for a full retreat."
"Or a war," Dominic murmured, turning from the glass. "Vittorio lost his youngest son today. Arrogant or not, Enzo was his blood. The old man won't just run to Chicago and hide. He’s going to look for an ally. Someone who hates me as much as he does."
"Who?" Elena asked, looking up from the screen.
"The Marcone family," Dominic said, walking over to stand behind her, his large hands resting on the back of her chair. "They control the Philadelphia ports. For three years, they’ve wanted a piece of our Long Island logistics. If Vittorio offers them his northern rail lines in exchange for a combined strike against our perimeter, we’ll be fighting a war on two fronts."
Elena stared at the map on the screen, her mind working with the clinical precision she had used when she was just a student trying to understand corporate structure. "Then we don't let them combine. We strike the Marcone family before they can receive Valenti’s offer."
Dominic looked down at her, a look of profound admiration crossing his features. "You're thinking like a general, Elena."
"I'm thinking like a mother who just had a stained-glass window shattered over her children's heads," she said, her voice dropping into a cold, fiercely protective tone. "We have the data from the Valenti files we seized last month. We know the Marcone family relies on a third-party clearing house in New Jersey to launder their port revenues. If we freeze that account, they won't have the cash flow to hire the muscle Vittorio needs."
"Marcus!" Dominic called out toward the open door.
The security chief stepped into the room immediately. "Yes, Boss?"
"Get the New Jersey team on the line," Dominic ordered. "Tell them Miss Elena has a target list for the Marcone accounts. I want them disabled before the banks open on Monday morning."
Marcus smiled, a grim, satisfied expression. "Consider it done, ma'am."
May you like
As Marcus left the room, Elena closed her laptop and stood up. She walked into Dominic’s arms, letting the exhaustion of the day finally catch up to her. "The girls are asleep in our room. They insisted on staying in the big bed tonight. They said they wanted to make sure we were still there."
Dominic held her tight, his chin resting on her head. "We're not going anywhere, Elena. This house belongs to us now. Not the ghosts, not the Valentis. Just us."
