Chapter 5 - The Syndicate's Shadow
I stared at the heavily encrypted ledger on the tablet.
The Volkov Syndicate was the most ruthless organized crime family in Chicago.
Brendan owed them nearly ten million dollars, and he had been using Chloe's medical funds to pay the interest.
"He sacrificed his own child to save his kneecaps," I whispered in horror.
"We need to get you to a safe house immediately," Raymond advised.
"If the Volkovs realize Brendan doesn't have the money, they will come after his wife."
I shook my head, a dangerous new plan forming in my mind.
"No," I said firmly.
"If they want their money, I am going to tell them exactly where to find it."
I bypassed the security protocols on Brendan’s corporate accounts using my new executive clearance.
With a few quick keystrokes, I froze every single liquid asset tied to the Fairchild name.
I locked Brendan out of his own bank accounts, his credit cards, and his offshore stashes.
I left him with absolutely nothing but the cash in his expensive wallet.
"Let him face the monsters he invited into our lives," I told Raymond.
We left the corporate building through the underground parking garage.
Raymond drove me to an old, heavily fortified brownstone in the city.
I sat in the dark living room, watching the security cameras I had secretly installed in the Fairchild estate.
Hours passed in absolute silence.
At midnight, Brendan finally arrived at the mansion, looking frantic and disheveled.
He was screaming into his cell phone, demanding to know why all his accounts were frozen.
Suddenly, three black SUVs crashed through the wrought-iron gates of the estate.
Armed men poured out of the vehicles and dragged Brendan out of his car by his hair.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a tailored coat stepped out of the lead vehicle.
It was Viktor Volkov, the head of the syndicate.
"Where is my money, Brendan?" Viktor's deep voice echoed through the camera's audio feed.
Brendan fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
"My wife has it!" Brendan cried out, pointing wildly toward the empty house.
"She stole everything from me, I swear you can have her instead of the money!"
Viktor looked disgusted by the pathetic display of cowardice.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a photograph, holding it up to the security camera.
It was a picture of my father.
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"Your wife's father saved my life twenty years ago," Viktor said directly into the camera lens.
"I don't work for you, Brendan. I work for her."
