Chapter 2 - The Poison Pill
I stared at the name on the screen without blinking.
Victor Valenti was not a man who relied on lawyers when he felt cheated.
He was a man who sent people to the bottom of the river for unpaid parking tickets.
"David is an absolute fool," I said softly, feeling a cold smile creep onto my face.
Marcus took a nervous sip of his bourbon and ran a hand through his gray hair.
"When Valenti's accountants register this deed tomorrow morning, the federal government will seize his accounts," Marcus explained.
The environmental lien attached to the property was designed to freeze the assets of anyone who claimed ownership.
David had essentially just handed a massive federal trap to a dangerous mafia boss.
"How much cash did Valenti give them for the house?" I asked.
"According to the wire transfer logs I can see here, he paid them two million dollars," Marcus replied.
Two million dollars was exactly the amount David owed to his underground sports bookies.
My son-in-law had stolen my home to save his own kneecaps, unknowingly trading one violent enemy for a much worse one.
"We need to ensure that my forged signature is completely documented by a forensic expert tonight," I instructed.
Marcus nodded and pulled a thick stack of legal affidavits from his desk drawer.
"I already have the paperwork ready to prove you were physically in London when this sale occurred," he said.
I signed the protective documents, legally distancing myself from the radioactive blast radius of David's crime.
"Where will you stay tonight, Eleanor?" Marcus asked with genuine concern in his eyes.
"I booked a suite at the Plaza, under my maiden name," I answered.
I stood up, feeling the exhaustion of the long flight finally settling into my bones.
"Call the federal environmental agency in the morning and tip them off about the deed transfer," I commanded.
"Are you entirely sure you want to pull that trigger?" Marcus asked cautiously.
"My daughter made her choice when she hit me on the sidewalk," I said coldly.
I left the law office and took a private car to the hotel.
The luxurious suite was warm, quiet, and completely isolated from the mess I had left behind.
I ran a hot bath and let the steaming water wash away the stale airplane air.
As I lay in the dark room, my phone vibrated on the bedside table.
I picked it up and saw an incoming call from an unknown, blocked number.
I hesitated for a moment before pressing the green button and lifting the phone to my ear.
"Hello," I said calmly.
May you like
A deep, gravelly voice echoed through the speaker, carrying a chilling calmness.
"Your son-in-law just sold me a very problematic piece of real estate, Eleanor."
