Chapter 36 New In Chicago
JEREMY
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I was in my hotel room when the call came at 2am Chicago time. I was reviewing contracts from the day's negotiations, when my phone buzzed. Vincent. My investigator.
Odd. He knew I was in Chicago on Family business. He would only make a call when it was absolutely necessary.
"Vincent. This better be important."
"It is." His voice was tight. "Marco from Crimson reached out through contact. Didn't want to call you directly in case your phone's being monitored."
My blood went cold. "Monitored by whom?"
"Your uncle."
I set down my pen slowly. "What happened?"
"Antonio showed up at Crimson this afternoon. Demanded to see Amelia. Marco tried to refuse but—"
"But Antonio's Family and Marco couldn't stop him." I stood, already moving toward my suitcase. "Is she hurt?"
"Not hurt. But Antonio took her, boss. Brought her to the Santoro estate. Told Marco she'd be safer there, that it was a Family business."
The phone creaked in my grip. "He took her to my house?"
"Yes. Marco said Antonio threatened her. He said that if she didn't come willingly, you would have an accident in Chicago. She went with him to protect you."
The room spun.
Antonio had taken Amelia. Threatened my life to force her compliance. Brought her to the family estate where I couldn't protect her.
Where he had complete control.
"I'm coming back. Tonight. I'll catch the first flight—"
"Boss, wait." Vincent's voice was urgent. "Think about this. If you rush back, Antonio wins. He'll know he got to you. He'll use it against you with your father."
"I don't care what tactics he employs against me." He has Amelia—"
"And she's alive. Marco knows that Amelia is unharmed. If Antonio wanted to hurt her, he would have done it already." Vincent paused. "This is a power play. He's testing you. Seeing if you'll react emotionally or strategically."
I wanted to put my fist through the wall. Through Antonio's face. Through everything.
"How long have you known?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.
"Marco's contact reached me four hours ago. I've been trying to verify the information before calling you."
Four hours. Amelia had been with Antonio for at least four hours. Maybe longer.
I thought of her the last time I'd seen her. In room three at Crimson, she was sitting on that couch while I fell asleep. The way she'd asked if I'd be careful in Chicago.
I had promised her that I would be careful.
And now she was at the estate, unprotected, with a man who saw people as chess pieces to be moved and sacrificed.
"I want surveillance on the estate," I said. "Eyes on every entrance. I want to know everyone who comes and goes. I want to know what Antonio does, where he goes, and who he meets with."
"Already done that. I put a team on it as soon as I got Marco's message."
"Good. Please, Vincent, investigate Antonio's activities. Everything. Bank accounts, offshore holdings, meetings, associates. Anything that doesn't align with Family business. Anything he's doing behind my father's back."
"You think he's dirty?" Vincent asked.
"I know he's dirty. I just need proof." I sat back down, forcing my breathing to steady. "My uncle's been undermining me for months. Lying to my father about my capabilities. This move with Amelia—it's not just about her. It's about proving I'm weak. Emotional. Unfit to lead."
"And storming back to confront him would prove him right." Vincent added.
"Exactly." The word tasted like acid. "So I'm going to finish the Chicago business. Come back on schedule. Act like nothing's wrong. And while I'm doing that, you're going to find me everything I need to destroy him."
"Understood. I'll send updates every six hours."
"Make it every three."
I hung up and stared at the wall.
Antonio had Amelia.
Every instinct screamed at me to get on a plane, storm the estate, and take her back by force.
But that's what he wanted. That's what he was counting on.
Jeremy's too emotional. Too attached. He'll abandon a family business to save his blind pet.
No.
I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts.
"Boss?" Luca's voice. "You okay? Heard you on the phone."
I opened the door. Luca stood there with Nico behind him, both looking concerned.
"We need to talk," I said. "Come in."
They entered. I closed the door and locked it.
"What happened?" Nico asked.
I told them. Everything. Russo's call, Antonio taking Amelia, and the threat on my life used to force her compliance.
Luca's face darkened. "That bastard. We should go back right now—"
"No." Nico cut him off, his eyes on me. "We shouldn't. Should we, boss?"
"No," I agreed. "We finish first here in Chicago. On schedule."
"Jeremy—" Luca started.
"It's a trap," Nico said, still watching me. "Antonio's baiting you. He wants you to react emotionally, abandon the Chicago negotiations, and prove to Dominic that you are not ready to lead.
"Exactly."
"But she's at the estate," Luca argued. "With Antonio. Who knows what he's doing to her—"
"He won't hurt her." I said it with more certainty than I felt. "She's only valuable as leverage if she's alive and unharmed. If he hurts her, he loses his hold over me."
"You sure about that?" Luca looked suspicious.
"No," I admitted. "But it's what I have to believe right now, because the alternative is losing my mind."
Nico nodded slowly. "So we stay. Finish the negotiations. Come back on schedule. And then what?"
"Then I gather evidence. Build a case against Antonio that even my father can't ignore. Prove he's been stealing from the Family, working side deals, and undermining me with lies." I met their eyes. "And when I have enough, I take him down. Properly. Permanently."
"That could take weeks," Luca said.
"Maybe. Or maybe just days, if Vincent finds what I think he'll find." I moved to the window and looked out at Chicago's skyline. "Antonio's been underboss for fifteen years. That's a long time to accumulate secrets. He makes deals on the side. This is done with the intention of skimming profits. He's dirty. I just need proof."
"And while you're gathering proof?" Nico asked quietly. "Amelia's alone with him."
I closed my eyes. "I know."
"She could be in danger."
"I know."
"She might think you abandoned her."
"I know!" The words came out harsher than intended. I took a breath. "I know. But if I go back now, I'm playing into his hands. He wants me emotional. Reckless. Abandoning the family business for a girl. That's the narrative he's building for my father."
"So you sacrifice her to prove you're strong?" Luca's voice was harsh.
"I'm not sacrificing anyone. I'm being strategic." I turned to face them. "Amelia survived the streets. Survived Crimson. Survived Miguel's assault. She's stronger than anyone gives her credit for. She can survive Antonio for a few days while I build the case to take him down."
"And if she can't?"
The question hung in the air.
"Then I'll burn the entire Family to the ground to avenge her," I said quietly. "But I don't think it'll come to that. Antonio needs her alive. Needs her as leverage. As long as she's useful, she's safe."
Nico and Luca exchanged glances.
"Okay," Nico said finally. "We trust your judgement, boss. We finish Chicago. But the second we're done—"
"The second we're done, we go home. And I end this." I looked at both of them. "One way or another."
They both nodded in agreement.