Chapter 8 - The Legal and Underworld War
The release of the delivery room footage triggered a federal raid that shook the city of Chicago to its foundations. By mid-afternoon, twelve high-ranking doctors and administrators at Lakeview Memorial were arrested by federal marshals on charges of human trafficking, corporate fraud, and conspiracy.
But Roman wasn't finished. The legal system was too slow for the kind of vengeance he required. The Falcone family had tried to kill Pamela, and they had endangered his children.
That evening, Roman called a meeting of the Commission—the underground council that regulated the various shipping and logistics territories along the Great Lakes. The meeting was held in a private, soundproof dining room at an exclusive steakhouse in the Loop.
Don Dominic Falcone, an old, arrogant man with silver hair and a silk tie, sat at the head of the table, flanked by his capos. He smiled dismissively as Roman entered the room alone, taking a seat across from him.
"Roman," Falcone sneered, cutting into his steak. "You look tired. I heard your little house-pet waitress has been causing a lot of trouble for your corporate holdings. If you need help cleaning up your domestic mess, my family is always happy to take a piece of your shipping contracts off your hands."
Roman didn't respond to the provocation. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small, sleek digital tablet, sliding it across the white tablecloth toward the old Don.
"What is this?" Falcone frowned, looking down at the screen.
"That is a live asset liquidation manifest," Roman said, his voice entirely flat, cold, and devoid of any human emotion.
"Over the last six hours, my logistics firms have seized every single container ship, every delivery truck, and every warehouse belonging to the Falcone family along the eastern seaboard. I bought your debt from the offshore banks in the Caymans—the ones Victoria used. As of five minutes ago, the Falcone family is completely bankrupt. You own nothing. You control nothing. Your men haven't been paid since noon, and they have already agreed to join my payroll."
Falcone’s fork dropped from his hand, clattering loudly against his plate. His face turned a deep, furious crimson. "You can't do this! The Commission won't allow a total takeover—"
"The Commission already signed off on it," Roman interrupted smoothly, gesturing toward the doors.
The double doors opened, and four of the most powerful syndicate bosses in the Midwest walked into the room, taking their places behind Roman. They looked at Falcone with cold, unforgiving eyes.
May you like
"You violated the first rule of the city, Dominic," one of the elder bosses said. "You brought women and infants into a corporate territory dispute. You allowed a corrupt doctor to traffic children under our flag. You are done."
Roman stood up, leaning over the table until his shadow completely swallowed the old Don. "If I see your face, your sons' faces, or any of your remaining capos within the city limits of Chicago by sunrise tomorrow, my men won't use warrants. They will use the lake. Get out of my city."
