Chapter 9 - The Trust of Wolves
The sub-basement holding cells of Meridian Freight headquarters were cold,
damp,
and completely soundproof.
Enzo Santoro sat chained to a heavy steel chair bolted to the concrete floor.
His expensive Brioni suit was stained with dirt and sweat,
his arrogant demeanor replaced by sullen fury.
The heavy steel door swung open with a loud groan,
and I stepped into the harsh fluorescent light.
Viktor followed close behind,
carrying a thick leather dossier.
“Dante,
” Enzo spat,
glaring up at me from his restraints.
“You think locking me in a hole changes anything?
” “The capos know where I am.
” “If I’m not out by morning,
the entire city goes up in flames.
” I pulled up a metal chair,
sitting down directly opposite him,
resting my elbows on my knees.
“Let’s talk about Thomas Vance,
Enzo,
” I said softly.
Enzo flinched.
Just a fraction of an inch,
but enough for me to see the armor crack.
“I don’t know any Thomas Vance,
” Enzo muttered,
looking away.
“Lying is a bad habit,
Enzo,
” I replied,
nodding to Viktor.
Viktor tossed the leather dossier onto Enzo’s lap,
flipping it open to display scanned wire transfer receipts from the Cayman accounts directly to the Assistant U.
S.
Attorney.
“Eighteen million dollars skimmed from Meridian Freight.
” “Two million paid out in political kickbacks to Thomas Vance.
” “And in exchange,
Vance was going to sign my federal indictment and throw Nora into a maximum-security prison before she could talk.
” Enzo stared at the papers,
his chest heaving as realization set in.
“You… you hacked the encrypted servers?
” “Nora is a brilliant accountant,
Enzo,
” I said,
leaning closer.
“And you underestimated her intelligence just like you underestimated mine.
” “She didn't just find the missing two and a half million.
” “She found every single account,
every bribe,
and every co-conspirator.
” Enzo let out a harsh,
bitter laugh,
shaking his head.
“You think you’ve won,
Dante.
” “Thomas Vance has federal marshals under his command.
” “Even if you expose him,
he’ll label you a domestic terrorist and raid this entire corporation before sunset.
” “Let him try,
” I whispered,
standing up and buttoning my suit jacket.
“Because by the time his marshals arrive,
the media,
the federal grand jury,
and the attorney general’s office will already have copies of this entire dossier.
” “And as for you,
Enzo?
May you like
” “You’re going to sit in this chair and watch your entire empire burn to ash.
”
