Chapter 37 The Leverage
Jeremy
Three Days Later – Still in Chicago
Vincent's reports consistently arrived on schedule. Every three hours. Each report added another piece to the puzzle.
Report 1: Antonio met with Viktor Volkov at a warehouse in Brooklyn. No Family members were present. Meeting lasted two hours.
Report 2: Bank records show Antonio has offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. $3.2 million was not reported to Family ledgers.
Report 3: Amelia was seen with Antonio in the estate library. Appeared unharmed but subdued. Antonio's hand on her shoulder—possessive.
Report 4: Antonio's been meeting regularly with Volkov representatives. Selling information. Territory maps, shipment schedules, and family vulnerabilities.
That last report confirmed what I'd suspected. Antonio wasn't just undermining me. He was betraying the entire Family.
Now, on day three, I sat in my hotel room reviewing Vincent's latest findings.
Antonio wasn't just dirty. He was a traitor.
The meetings with Viktor Volkov? Selling Family secrets. Information that could get our people killed.
The offshore accounts? The offshore accounts have been used to syphon off profits from the family over a period of years. Millions should have gone to Family coffers.
And Amelia? She was the perfect leverage. She served as the ideal tool to maintain my discipline while he consolidated his power.
My phone rang. Vincent again.
"Tell me you have something I can use," I answered.
"Better. I have proof. Documents linking Antonio to the Volkovs. Bank transfers. Meeting records. A paper trail that leads directly to treason." Vincent paused. "And there's more. Antonio's been positioning himself for a power play. He is using Volkov's support to challenge your father's authority. He's planning a coup, boss."
"When?" I asked, getting excited already.
"Soon. We expect it to happen within the month, based on the communications we've intercepted. He's waiting for the right moment. The right leverage." Vincent's voice darkened. "Amelia's part of that leverage. He's using her to control you, keeping you off-balance while he makes his move."
My grip tightened on the phone. "Does he know we're onto him?"
"No. He thinks you're still in the dark. He thinks the Chicago trip proves you're prioritising business over her."
"Good. Keep it that way." I stood up and started pacing. "Send me everything. Every document, every photo, every piece of evidence you have. I want it airtight."
"Already compiling it. You'll have it in an hour."
"And Vincent—increase surveillance on the estate. I want to know every time Antonio goes near her room. Every conversation. Everything."
"On it. But boss—" He hesitated. "You should know. Antonio's been... spending time with her. Calling her to the living room. Making her massage his shoulders. Nothing overtly violent, but definitely inappropriate. Definitely control tactics."
Rage flooded through me, white-hot and absolute.
"How long?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.
"It started the same day she arrived. Happens every evening around eight."
"And no one's stopping him?"
"Who could? He's underboss. The estate staff follows his orders."
I closed my eyes, forced myself to breathe. "Three more days. I finish the Chicago deal tomorrow and fly home the day after. Three days and I get her out."
"And if Antonio escalates before then?"
"Then you call me immediately and I'm on the first plane home, deal or no deal?" I opened my eyes. "But I don't think he will. He's enjoying having control too much. Enjoying proving he can manipulate me through her."
"Understood."
I hung up and immediately dialled Nico.
"We're almost done in Chicago," I said when he answered. "One more day of negotiations, then we're going home."
"About fucking time. What's the play when we get there?"
"I go to my father with evidence of Antonio's treason. Offshore accounts, secret meetings with the Volkovs, selling Family secrets. Make it impossible for him to ignore."
"And if Dominic doesn't believe you?"
"Then I take Amelia and we disappear. Let the Family deal with Antonio's treachery themselves." I grabbed my jacket. "But it won't come to that. The evidence is solid."
"And Amelia?"
"The second I present the evidence to my father and get his approval, I'm going to the estate. I'm taking her out of there. And if Antonio tries to stop me—" My hand moved to my gun. "—he won't be a problem anymore."
"Understood. Want me and Luca with you when you confront Dominic?"
"No. I do this alone. But I want you both on standby. If things go sideways, I'll need extraction for Amelia."
"We'll be ready."
I hung up and looked around the hotel room. Eight days in Chicago. Eight days of negotiating, strategising, and building the case against my uncle.
Three days of knowing Amelia was trapped with him. Being used and being controlled.
Three days is too long.
But now I had what I needed. Proof of Antonio's treason. Even my father wouldn't ignore the evidence.
I had strategically handled the situation. Stayed calm. Gathered ammunition.
Tomorrow I'd close the Chicago deal.
The day after, I'd go home.
And Antonio?
Antonio had made his last mistake.
AMELIA - Same Night
I lay in the dark of my beautiful prison and counted the hours.
Three days since Antonio had brought me here.
Three days of being summoned every evening. Of massaging his shoulders while he talked about Jeremy's weaknesses. Of enduring his possessive touches and calculated threats.
Three days of waiting for Jeremy to come home.
But he hadn't called. Hadn't sent word. For all I knew, Antonio's threats had been real and Jeremy was—
No. I couldn't think that way.
He was alive. He had to be alive.
And when he came back—
If he came back—
Would he even want me anymore? Once he knew what I'd done? Where had I been? What had I agreed to?
A sound in the hallway made me freeze.
Footsteps could be heard, approaching my room.
Antonio's footsteps. I'd learnt to recognise them. Heavy. Confident. Predatory.
They stopped outside my door.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
"Amelia." He spoke in the darkness. "Are you awake?"
I didn't answer. Didn't move. Maybe if I stayed silent, he'd leave.
"I know you're awake. I can hear your breathing." He moved into the room and closed the door behind him. "I wanted to discuss your progress."
My heart hammered. "What progress?"
"Your adaptation. You've been very compliant these past few days. Obedient. That's good." He sat on the edge of my bed. "It means you understand how things work now. How to survive in my world."
"I understand you threatened to kill Jeremy if I didn't cooperate."
"And you believed me. Smart girl." His hand touched my face. "Jeremy will be home in a few days. When he returns, you'll continue exactly as you've been. Compliant. Obedient. And you'll tell me everything he discusses with you."
"What if he doesn't visit me?"
"Oh, he will. He's too attached to stay away. The question is whether he'll prioritize you over evrything. Whether he'll try to move you somewhere else, away from my control." Antonio's thumb stroked my cheek. "That's what I need to know. His plans. His priorities. His weaknesses."
"And if I refuse to tell you?"
"Then I stop being nice." His hand tightened on my face. "I've been gentle with you, Amelia. Kind, even. But don't mistake that for weakness. If you refuse me, I'll make you regret it. And then I'll make Jeremy regret it too."
Tears leaked from my eyes. "Please. Just let me go."
"I can't do that. You're too valuable." He released my face and stood up. "Get some rest. Tomorrow evening, same time. Living room. Don't make me come get you."
He left. The lock clicked behind him.
I lay there in the dark, tears soaking my pillow, and tried to hold onto hope.
Jeremy was coming home. Vincent had said people would know if something happened to him.
So he was alive. Finishing his business in Chicago.
But when he came back—
How long would Antonio keep this up? How long would I have to endure his control?
And what would Jeremy do when he found out where I was?
Please hurry, I thought desperately. Please come home soon.
But the darkness offered no answers.
Only silence.
And the certainty that tomorrow evening, at eight o'clock, Antonio would call for me again.
And I would have to go.
Because I had no other choice.