Chapter 12 - Shadows of the Northside
Back at the estate, the atmosphere had shifted from paranoia to quiet, calculated rebuilding. While Gabriel dealt with the remaining loyalists of Leo’s faction across the city, I sequestered myself in the master suite to review the encrypted flash drive I had downloaded from Leo’s office.
The data revealed a web of corruption stretching far beyond Viktor Vance. Several senior council members, politicians, and high-ranking police officials were deeply entangled in the conspiracy to dismantle the Russo syndicate from within. They had planned to use the turf war as an excuse to bring down federal heat on both sides.
A sharp knock at the heavy oak door broke my concentration.
Marcus stepped into the room, holding a secure encrypted tablet. “Mrs. Russo, an incoming transmission from an unregistered burner line. It’s Viktor Vance’s younger brother, Julian. He says it’s urgent.”
I took the tablet, dismissing Marcus with a wave of my hand. I tapped the screen to open the encrypted audio channel. Julian’s voice came through, raspy and laced with genuine panic.
“Clare, you need to listen to me very carefully,” Julian whispered urgently. “Viktor found out about Leo’s death. He knows the whole operation has collapsed, and he’s desperate. He’s planning a final, suicidal strike against the estate tonight—not with foot soldiers, but with an explosive device smuggled into the annual council dinner.”
My blood ran cold. The council dinner was scheduled for tomorrow night—a gathering of every major family head in Chicago, hosted right here in our ballroom. If Viktor blew up the estate during the summit, it would wipe out the entire syndicate leadership in one stroke.
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“Are you certain, Julian?” I asked, my voice dropping into a razor-sharp register.
“I heard the call minutes ago,” Julian replied. “He’s using a corrupt member of your own domestic staff to plant the device. Find them, Clare. Fast.”
