Chapter 19 - The New OrderSix months after the night at the Lake Forest mansion, the Moretti syndicate was no longer just an underground criminal organization—it was a global conglomerate operating with the precision of a Fortune 500 corporation and the lethal protection of an international security force.
In the penthouse suite of the Moretti Tower, I sat at my massive mahogany desk, reviewing the quarterly financial projections for our new philanthropic medical foundation, now fully funded by the recovered Swiss accounts.
My phone rang. It was Mom, calling from her new private estate in Tuscany.
"Avery, darling, are you eating properly?" her cheerful voice came through the line. "The Italian gardeners just planted a new batch of roses in the courtyard, and the doctor says my heart test results are completely normal!"
"I'm eating, Mom," I smiled, leaning back in my ergonomic leather chair. "And I'm glad you're enjoying the garden. I'll be flying out to visit you next weekend."
"Don't work too hard, honey. You and Dominic need to take a vacation."
"We're managing, Mom. Love you."
I hung up just as the heavy double doors of the office swung open, and Dominic walked in, carrying two glasses of rare vintage wine. He handed one to me and sat on the edge of the desk, looking down at the multi-billion-dollar portfolio spread across my screen.
"The federal task force in Washington just officially closed the active investigation into our logistics network," Dominic announced with a satisfied grin. "They lack the evidence to touch us for another decade."
"They lacked the evidence because our math was cleaner than theirs," I replied, taking a slow sip of the wine.
Dominic chuckled, clinking his glass against mine. "So, partner... what's our next conquest?"
May you like
I looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass window at the breathtaking expanse of the Chicago skyline stretching out beneath us under a brilliant morning sun.
"Let's run the world, Dominic," I said softly. "The arithmetic is finally on our side."
