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The grandfather clock in the east wing struck midnight with a heavy, resonant toll that vibrated through the reinforced concrete and ancient oak beams of the Moretti estate. Adrian Moretti, the most feared syndicate leader in Chicago, sat at his walnut desk, reviewing encrypted cargo manifests from the port. / Chapter 13 / 20

Chapter 13 - The Inside Informant"Never wander down here alone, Claire," Adrian commanded quietly, pulling her and Lily behind him as he stepped into the dark archive room.

He crouched down, inspecting the blinking transceiver. It was a military-grade pulse transmitter, actively broadcasting the estate’s internal security layout to an external receiver.

"Someone inside my own household is feeding our positions to Veritas," Adrian muttered, his voice cold enough to freeze glass.

"Who could it be?" Claire asked, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Everyone here has been vetted for years."

"Vetting can be bought, or worse, family loyalty can be weaponized," Adrian replied, standing up. He turned to face her, his expression softening slightly as he looked at Lily, who was yawning sleepily. "Take Lily back to the secure suite. Lock the door behind you and don't open it for anyone—not even Daniel."

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The digital glow of Mason’s tablet illuminated the dark living room, casting cold blue shadows across his determined face. On the screen, Vanessa’s voice echoed—slick, calculated, and entirely devoid of the warmth she reserves for public displays. She wasn't just hoarding groceries; she was laying the architectural groundwork for a legal trap.

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Claire nodded firmly, picking Lily up in her arms. "Be careful, Adrian."

As she walked away, Adrian pulled his Sig Sauer from its holster, his jaw tightening as he prepared to hunt the rat within his own house.

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