Chapter 12 - The Night Chicago Turned Against Them
Dominic called Vincent.
No answer.
Clara read the message again.
“If Isabella is alive—”
“He’ll follow Salvatore anywhere.”
“So would you.”
“Yes.”
That was the problem.
They traced the sedan through city cameras.
South Side.
Old Castellano territory.
Eventually it disappeared near an abandoned printing plant.
Dominic knew the building.
His father had once owned it.
They arrived before federal agents.
Inside, Vincent sat tied to a chair.
Salvatore stood nearby.
No Isabella.
Dominic aimed his gun.
“Where is my mother?”
Salvatore laughed.
“Still impatient.”
“You have ten seconds.”
“She died eighteen years ago.”
Vincent stared.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To bring you here.”
Salvatore wanted the final ledger destroyed.
But he also wanted Vale gone.
For decades he had served the Kingmaker.
Then Vale decided to erase him.
The entire gala had been Salvatore’s attempt to force the Castellanos to expose Vale while retrieving the evidence for himself.
“You used Clara.”
“I frightened Clara.”
Salvatore smiled.
“There’s a difference.”
Dominic’s expression darkened.
“Not to me.”
Salvatore looked at Clara.
“You’re why Evelyn failed.”
Clara stepped forward.
“No. I’m why you did.”
Sirens approached.
Salvatore’s confidence vanished.
Clara had shared their location before entering.
He raised his gun toward Vincent.
Dominic fired first.
Salvatore dropped.
Alive.
Shot through the shoulder.
Federal agents entered.
For the first time in decades, Salvatore DeLuca was placed in handcuffs.
Vincent was freed.
Dominic embraced him.
This time for longer than two seconds.
By sunrise, Chicago exploded.
The ledger implicated officials across the city.
Arrests began.
Vale was charged.
Crown Club members turned on one another.
Clara sat on the Aster roof watching dawn.
Dominic joined her.
“You saved my brother.”
“You saved my mother.”
“Technically, your mother saved herself.”
“That sounds like her.”
Dominic sat beside Clara.
“Your contract ends Friday.”
She looked at him.
“Firing me?”
“No.”
“Good. My termination fee is offensive.”
“I know. I read it.”
She smiled.
Dominic grew serious.
“When this ends—”
“You keep trying that sentence.”
“I’d like to take you to dinner.”
“We’ve had dinner.”
“Without gunfire.”
“Ambitious.”
“Clara.”
Her expression softened.
“Yes.”
One word.
It meant more to Dominic than it should have.
Then Evelyn called.
Clara answered.
Her mother sounded frightened.
“Clara, I found Isabella’s last recording.”
“Where?”
“In the archive.”
“What does it say?”
Silence.
“Mom?”
Evelyn whispered, “Richard Vale wasn’t the Kingmaker.”
Clara stood.
Dominic saw her face.
“Who was?”
Evelyn began to answer.
Then someone knocked on her door.
Three slow knocks.
Evelyn whispered one final sentence.
May you like
“Oh God. He found me.”
The call went dead.
