Chapter 4 - The Moretti Ultimatum
Dante Moretti’s name was a ghost story whispered in the back rooms of Brooklyn and Little Italy. While Adrian Duca controlled Manhattan’s skyscrapers and real estate, the Moretti family ruled the docks, the shipping lanes, and the old-world syndicates.
And right now, Dante Moretti was standing in Cara’s cramped Queens apartment, looking around with mild amusement.
“Vincent Rizzo was a good friend of mine,” Dante said, tapping his silver-knobbed cane against the linoleum floor. “When he passed away last night under... tragic circumstances in Adrian’s penthouse, a lot of financial ledgers suddenly went missing. Ledgers that trace every dollar of illicit capital flowing through Duca Development.”
Cara’s throat went dry. “I don’t know anything about ledgers.”
“Of course you don't,” Dante smiled, stepping closer. “You’re just an innocent maid who happened to save the great Adrian Duca’s life. But here’s the problem, Cara. Adrian is ruthless. He is paranoid. And men like him don't keep witnesses around out of the goodness of their hearts—they keep them on a leash.”
“He’s paying for my brother’s medical treatment,” Cara said defensively, standing her ground.
“And how much is that life worth to you?” Dante’s smile vanished, replaced by a dark, predatory glare. “Adrian is building an empire on blood and concrete. When his enemies come for him—and they will come—you and your little brother will be the first targets in the crossfire.”
Dante reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a heavy, platinum-encrusted flash drive, and tossed it onto the bed beside her duffel bag.
“Here is what you are going to do,” Dante whispered. “You are going to take this flash drive, plug it into Adrian’s private terminal in the Tribeca penthouse tonight, and download his shipping manifests. Do that, and I will personally guarantee that your brother’s medical care is funded for the rest of his life, anywhere in the world. Refuse... and Mount Sinai might suffer an unfortunate power outage.”
Cara stared at the flash drive as if it were a venomous snake.
“You’re threatening a child,” she whispered, horror rising in her chest.
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“I’m playing chess, my dear,” Dante replied smoothly, turning toward the door. “You have until midnight. Adrian trusts you now. Don't waste the advantage.”
With that, Dante Moretti vanished into the hallway, leaving Cara alone in the silence of the empty apartment.
