Chapter 7 - The UnravelingJulian’s face went pale. He looked at Daniel, then at Lorenzo, realization crashing over him like a tidal wave.
"You... you set me up," Julian gasped, standing up so fast his chair overturned.
"No, Julian," Lorenzo said, taking a step forward until he was towering over his cousin. "You set yourself up the moment you thought you were smart enough to betray me. And you picked the worst possible ally."
Lorenzo grabbed Daniel by the lapels of his suit, lifting the smaller man off his feet with terrifying ease, and threw him onto the marble table. Glasses shattered, alcohol spilled everywhere, and Daniel shrieked in terror.
"Please! Don't kill me! Lorenzo, please!" Daniel sobbed, clutching his hands together. "Isabella, tell him! I'll give you everything back! The company, the house, the money! Just let me go!"
Isabella walked up to the edge of the table where Daniel lay cowering. She looked down at him with ruthless indifference.
"I don't want you to give it back, Daniel," Isabella whispered. "I'm going to take it."
Lorenzo looked at Marco. "Take Mr. Vance to the precinct. Drop him on the front steps with the evidence of his pension fraud. Let Frank Cruz's old colleagues handle him."
"No! No, please! Not the cops! They'll kill me in there!" Daniel screamed as Marco and two heavy-set guards dragged him kicking and screaming out of the club.
Once Daniel was gone, the room fell into a heavy, oppressive silence. Julian stood frozen, staring at his cousin, knowing his own life hung by a thread.
Lorenzo looked at Julian for a long moment, then slowly reached out and straightened his cousin’s collar.
"You're family, Julian," Lorenzo said, his tone deceptive in its softness. "Which is the only reason you are still breathing. But you are stripped of your command. You will leave Chicago by midnight. If I see your face in this city again, I won't send you to police."
Julian swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. "Understood, Lorenzo. Understood."
Lorenzo turned to Isabella, offering his arm once again. "Shall we go, Mrs. Vescari? We have a press conference to attend."
May you like
Isabella took his arm, feeling the strength and danger that hummed through him. "A press conference?"
"Arthur Whitfield is waiting for us at City Hall," Lorenzo said, a dark smile playing on his lips. "It's time to end the Whitfield empire once and for all."
