Chapter 8 - THE ARRIVAL OF THE WOLVES
The gravel crunched under heavy tires as the three black Escalades slammed to a halt.
The doors swung open simultaneously.
Out stepped Gabriel's uncles: Uncle Salvatore, Uncle Dante, and Uncle Rocco.
They were the old guard of the Chicago syndicate.
Men who ruled through fear, blood, and absolute silence.
Uncle Salvatore adjusted his cashmere coat, stepping up the front steps with a predatory smirk.
“Well, well,” Salvatore sneered.
“The little bird thinks she owns the nest now.”
Agent Vance immediately placed his hand on his holster, stepping between us.
“Back up, gentlemen. This is a federal crime scene.”
Uncle Dante laughed darkly.
“Federal crime scene? Agent Vance, this is family business.”
He pointed a thick, ringed finger directly at me.
“Hand over the keys, Claire. And hand over the ledger.”
Nonna Antonella stepped forward, her cane hitting the porch floor with a sharp crack.
“Step away from my granddaughter, Salvatore!” she commanded.
Salvatore stopped, though his eyes remained cold and calculating.
“Mother, you should be resting inside,” Salvatore said smoothly, though his tone held zero respect.
“Gabriel is gone. He was weak. He trusted a woman.”
“He trusted no one,” Antonella retorted.
“And neither do I.”
I clutched the Manila envelope tightly against my chest.
I remembered the deed.
I remembered the legal power resting in my hands.
For seven years, they had treated me like a ghost at the dinner table.
A silent decoration.
A quiet wife meant to pour wine and nod.
Not anymore.
“You want the estate?” I asked, my voice cutting cleanly through the night air.
Salvatore smiled, thinking I had surrendered.
“Smart girl. Give us the deed, and we'll let you walk away with your life.”
I lifted the envelope.
I pulled out the original deed signed by their father.
I held it up under the porch light.
“You can't have it,” I said clearly.
“Because this house doesn't belong to the syndicate.”
Uncle Rocco stepped forward, his face twisting into a snarl.
“Listen to me, you little—!”
“Enough!” Agent Vance barked, drawing his service weapon.
“Another step forward and it's obstruction of justice and attempted assault on a federal witness.”
The uncles froze.
They glared at Vance, then back at me.
Salvatore pointed a warning finger.
“You signed your own death warrant tonight, Claire.”
He turned and gestured to his brothers.
“Let's go. We'll settle this in court... or on the streets.”
The Escalades roared to life, reversing down the driveway in a cloud of dust.
Nonna Antonella exhaled a shaky breath, grabbing my arm.
“They won't stop, Claire,” she whispered.
May you like
“Neither will I,” I replied.
[CLIFFHANGER: While reviewing the secret documents late at night, Claire discovers a hidden bank account number and a digital audio file on the USB drive revealing who really framed Gabriel.]
