Chapter 2 - The Ransom Call
Victor stared at the glowing screen of the burner phone.
The ringing echoed loudly against the corrugated steel walls.
He picked it up and pressed it to his ear.
“I assume you found the coin, Victor,” Gregory’s voice echoed through the speaker.
The estate manager sounded entirely too calm.
“Where is she, Gregory?” Victor asked, his tone laced with lethal intent.
“She is perfectly safe for now,” Gregory replied smoothly.
“But that depends entirely on your next move.”
Victor’s eyes scanned the dark corners of the warehouse.
“You betrayed fourteen years of loyalty for a stack of ledgers.”
“Those ledgers prove you are funneling weapons through the eastern docks,” Gregory countered.
“The Romanos are willing to pay me ten million dollars for that information.”
Victor tightened his grip on the phone.
“The Romanos will kill you as soon as you hand the book over.”
“I am aware of how the game is played, Victor.”
“That is why I have an insurance policy.”
A muffled scream came through the line.
It was Hannah.
Victor’s heart slammed against his ribs.
“If you hurt her, I will spend the rest of my life hunting you down,” Victor swore.
“I want the deed to the southern shipyards,” Gregory demanded.
“Transfer the ownership to the shell company I just emailed to Marcus.”
“You have one hour to complete the transaction.”
“If you fail, Hannah dies.”
The line went dead.
Victor lowered the phone, his mind racing through tactical options.
He turned to leave the warehouse and get back to his vehicle.
A red laser sight suddenly danced across his chest.
“Drop the gun, Castellano,” a gruff voice echoed from the catwalk above.
Five heavily armed men stepped out of the shadows.
They were wearing the signature black tactical gear of the Romano family.
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Gregory had never intended to negotiate.
The meeting place was a trap to execute the head of the Castellano family.
