Chapter 3 - The Midnight Panic
I recognized the voice immediately from the old stories Richard used to whisper late at night.
It was Victor Valenti himself.
"I no longer own that property, Mr. Valenti," I replied without a single tremor in my voice.
"I am well aware of that, considering my men just found the federal lien buried in the fine print," Victor said.
He did not sound angry, which made the situation infinitely more terrifying.
"David forged my signature while I was out of the country," I explained simply.
"Yes, my hackers have already verified your flight records and your lawyer's late-night filings," Victor mused.
He paused, and I could hear the faint sound of a cigar being lit in the background.
"Your idiot son-in-law took my two million dollars and paid off the Irish mob three hours ago," Victor stated.
"That sounds like a personal problem for David," I said, staring at the ceiling.
Victor chuckled, a dark and humorless sound that sent a shiver down my spine.
"The money is gone, the house is worthless to me, and I am currently very displeased," Victor said.
"What exactly do you want from me?" I asked.
"I want the combination to the hidden steel safe your late husband built under the basement floor," he demanded.
My breath hitched in my throat.
Daniela and David had no idea that a secret bunker even existed beneath the foundation of the house.
Richard had built it decades ago to hide things that were too dangerous for safety deposit boxes.
"I do not know the combination," I lied smoothly.
"Richard always kept a ledger in that safe, a book that details a lot of powerful people's dirty secrets," Victor pressed.
"If you want the safe, you will have to crack it yourself," I replied.
"My men are already inside the house attempting to do just that," Victor said coldly.
I sat up in bed, my heart beginning to race.
"David and Daniela are still inside that house," I warned him.
"I know," Victor replied.
He hung up the phone, leaving me listening to the dead dial tone.
I rushed to the window and looked out over the glittering city skyline.
David and Daniela were sleeping in a house that was currently being invaded by heavily armed mobsters.
I pulled up the security camera app on my phone, which David had stupidly forgotten to disconnect from my email.
The screen loaded, showing the dark living room of my old house.
Four men in black masks were standing over the sofa, holding silenced pistols.
David was on his knees, crying and begging with his hands raised in the air.
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Daniela was pressed against the wall, her face pale with absolute terror as she stared at the intruders.
One of the masked men grabbed my daughter by her hair and dragged her toward the basement door.
