Chapter 21 - Shadows of the Past
Spring in Boston brought a deceptive warmth, melting the remaining ice from the cobblestone streets around the harbor, but the underworld rarely stays thawed for long. One morning, while reviewing patient files at the Institute, Leo burst through my office door without his usual knock, holding a heavy manila envelope stamped with a red wax seal.
“Dr. Fitzgerald, you need to see this,” Leo panted, slamming the envelope onto my mahogany desk. “A courier dropped it off at the east gate. It’s addressed directly to Massimo, but the seal... the seal belongs to the Sicilian branch.”
My stomach dropped. Massimo had severed ties with the old-world Italian families years ago to transition the Pascale enterprise into legitimate real estate and medical infrastructure. Bringing Sicily back into the picture meant war.
“Where is he?” I asked, grabbing the envelope.
May you like
“Down at the private docks inspecting the new shipping manifests. He’s alone, Tessa.”
Without a second thought, I locked the file in my drawer, grabbed my keys, and drove my car straight toward the waterfront, a cold dread tightening around my ribs.
