Chapter 2 - Shadows at the Perimeter
By mid-afternoon, the weather had turned into a blinding snowstorm. High winds howled against the reinforced glass windows of the Moretti estate, a sprawling fifty-acre compound tucked deep within the private woodlands of Highland Park.
In the private study, fire crackled in the massive hearth. Aleandro sat behind an antique mahogany desk, staring at a series of surveillance feeds displayed on high-definition monitors.
On Screen 4, in the heated indoor sunroom of the north wing, Emma was sitting on a plush rug. She was pouring imaginary tea from a tiny plastic teapot into a pair of plastic cups. Bruno sat upright beside her, wearing a ridiculously small plastic teacup balanced perfectly on his flat head.
Standing beside Aleandro was Marco, his lieutenant and childhood friend. Marco wore an arm holster over his crisp dark suit, his face fixed in a permanent grimace as he watched the monitor.
“It’s unnatural, boss,” Marco muttered, shaking his head. “That beast bit off half of an intruder’s foot two months ago. Now he’s having a high-tea party with a toddler.”
“Dogs know bloodlines,” Aleandro said softly, tossing a manila folder onto the desk. “And they know fear. The child has neither hesitation nor malice.”
Marco picked up the folder, opening it to reveal a series of surveillance photographs and official state documents. His eyes widened slightly as he read the names.
“Sophia Carter... real name Sophia Vance?” Marco looked up, his expression hardening instantly. “Vance? As in Julian Vance? The rat who ran the East Coast distribution before he vanished three years ago?”
“Julian Vance was her husband,” Aleandro confirmed, leaning back in his leather chair and lacing his fingers together. “He stole six million dollars from the Valenti family in New York before he was put in the ground. Sophia fled with the baby right after he was killed. She changed her name, forged her papers, and took a job as a low-level maid in my house to hide in plain sight.”
“Does the Valenti family know she’s here?” Marco asked, his hand dropping closer to his weapon.
“Not yet,” Aleandro replied coldly. “If Don Valenti knew Julian Vance’s wife and daughter were sleeping under my roof, he would have sent a hit squad to tear this compound apart six months ago.”
“We need to toss them to the street, Aleandro,” Marco urged, stepping closer. “The Valentis are looking for an excuse to start a territory war in Illinois. If they find out you’re harboring Vance’s family, they’ll call it a declaration of war.”
Aleandro looked back at Screen 4. On the display, Emma had just leaned over and kissed Bruno right on his wet nose. The giant dog gave her a gentle nudge with his snout, causing the toddler to burst into silent, helpless giggles.
“No,” Aleandro said softly.
Marco blinked. “Boss?”
“If I throw them out, Valenti’s scouts will catch them within forty-eight hours. The mother will be tortured, and the child will be sold or killed,” Aleandro said, his voice dropping into a tone that made even Marco shudder. “I don't war with children, Marco. And more importantly... Bruno has made his choice.”
Before Marco could reply, a red light began to flash rhythmically on the security console. A sharp, high-pitched chime chimed through the study.
Aleandro’s eyes snapped to Screen 1—the outer south gate.
A black SUV had pulled up to the security check-post in the middle of the raging snowstorm. Through the thermal camera feed, three armed men could be seen stepping out of the vehicle, speaking aggressively to the front-gate guards.
“Who is it?” Aleandro asked smoothly, standing up and smoothing his tailored Italian suit.
Marco checked his tablet. “It’s Jimmy 'The Hammer' Valenti. Don Valenti’s nephew. He says he’s in town for a 'courtesy visit' to discuss shipping routes along Lake Michigan.”
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Aleandro’s lips curved into a dark, ruthless smile that held no warmth whatsoever. “He didn't come for shipping routes. He came because someone leaked a rumor.”
He turned toward the door. “Bring Jimmy to the main reception hall. And tell Sophia to keep her daughter locked in the north wing until I say otherwise.”
