Chapter 10 - The Syndicate War|
The Chicago cartel did not wait long.
Within forty-eight hours of the letter's arrival, three Costa shipping warehouses along the river were targeted in coordinated arson attacks. The message was clear: the old syndicate rules were back, and the Chicago crew intended to take control of New York's docks.
Vincent sat at the head of the long conference table in his private war room. Surrounding him were his eight top capos—men who had previously served Lorenzo, now watching Vincent with a mixture of fear and newfound respect.
Tessa sat directly beside him, wearing a sharp charcoal suit, reviewing the financial reports of the damaged warehouses.
"They want us to panic, Boss," Capo Marco growled, pounding his fist on the table. "The Chicago boss, Dominic Vane, thinks because you purged Lorenzo and Camila, our family is weak!"
"Let him think we are weak," Vincent said calmly, leaning back in his leather chair. "A man who thinks his enemy is weak makes mistakes."
Tessa leaned closer to Vincent, pointing at a line item on the shipping manifest. "Vincent... look at the cargo logs for Warehouse 4. The fire started before the trucks even arrived. It wasn't an attack from the outside. It was an insurance cover-up."
The room fell dead quiet.
Vincent looked at the paper, his eyes narrowing. "Someone inside our logistics team is working for Dominic Vane."
Tessa stood up, addressing the room with cool confidence. "Dominic Vane isn't trying to destroy the shipping lines. He's trying to force us into a fire sale so his front companies can buy the deeds at a discount."
May you like
The capos exchanged astonished looks. The kitchen maid they had originally dismissed as an outsider was picking apart a high-level cartel conspiracy in thirty seconds.
Vincent looked at Tessa, a proud, sharp smile touching his lips. "Matteo, trace the offshore accounts linked to Warehouse 4. We find the traitor tonight."
