Chapter 5 - The Snake Leaves His Den
The fall of the Dixon family sent shockwaves through the local underworld. Within forty-eight hours, the Silver Blades gang dissolved completely, its teenage members fleeing as federal subpoenas began raining down on anyone associated with Gary Dixon’s chop shop.
In a luxury penthouse overlooking the city harbor, Dominic Vance stood before a wall of glass, clutching a glass of scotch so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"How did this happen?" Vance growled, turning toward his chief lieutenant, a heavily tattooed man named Cross. "A low-level street crew gets wiped out in thirty-six hours because of a dispute with a fifty-year-old widow over a dog?!"
"Boss, it's not just that," Cross said, his voice trembling. "The tax audit didn't just hit Gary. It hit our shell accounts in Panama. Someone leaked the master ledger from 2014—the one only Richard Cross had access to."
Vance’s glass froze halfway to his lips. His eyes narrowed into slivers of pure venom.
"Richard is dead," Vance spat. "I buried him myself ten years ago."
"Then his ghost is writing emails," Cross swallowed hard. "Because thirty minutes ago, a courier delivered this to the front desk. It was addressed to you personally."
Cross placed a small, velvet-lined box onto the glass desk.
Vance stepped forward, his breathing heavy. He opened the box.
Inside lay a single silver collar tag, stamped with the name RICHARD. Beside it was a hand-written note on heavy cream paper. The handwriting was unmistakable—the precise, elegant cursive of Kayla Cross.
You broke my peaceful street, Dominic. Now I am going to break your empire.
Vance’s face drained of color. The scotch glass slipped from his fingers, shattering against the marble floor.
"She's alive," Vance whispered, horror creeping into his chest. "The widow is alive..."
"Boss? Who is she?" Cross asked, confused. "She's just one woman!"
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"She's not just a woman, you idiot!" Vance roared, grabbing Cross by the lapels of his jacket. "She was the brains behind Richard’s entire structure! Every politician we bought, every offshore account we opened, every judge in our pocket—she built that system! If she’s back, she won't just kill us... she’ll erase us!"
Vance shoved Cross away, pacing furiously. "Gather every man we have. Find out where she's staying. I don't care if she's on Ashgrove Street or in a bunker—put a bullet in her head before she reaches the council!"
