Chapter 4 - The Cognac and the Contract
Through the narrow brass opening, Dante had a crystal-clear view of his private study.
Sitting in Dante’s hand-carved leather armchair was Leo Marino. Clad in a thousand-dollar grey suit, Leo poured two fingers of aged cognac into a crystal tumbler, his face relaxed and entirely devoid of guilt. Resting on the desk right beside his drink was a heavy tactical pistol fitted with a carbon-fiber silencer, along with a stack of signed wire transfer documents from a South American cartel bank.
Two masked mercenaries stood at attention near the study fireplace, watching Leo as he casually swirled the amber liquid in his glass.
"The cartel wired the final forty million ten minutes ago, boss," one of the mercenaries reported in a low voice. "Once we clean up the girl and the house staff, the estate is officially yours."
Leo took a slow sip of the cognac, smacking his lips in satisfaction as he leaned back into Dante's chair. "Dante was always too cautious. He thought family loyalty meant something in this business. Tomorrow morning, I tell the council that the cartel wiped him out, and I take the crown."
On the other side of the wall, Dante felt a freezing void open inside his chest.
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"Fifteen years as my brother... for a contract," Dante breathed in a dark, deadly whisper.
👉 Read on as Dante prepares his silent counter-strike.
