Chapter 9 - Shadows of the Past
Life inside the Rossy estate had settled into a beautiful, harmonious rhythm, but the world outside Vincent’s walls was never completely silent.
Three months after the fall of Salvatore Marcone, the Eastern Seaboard syndicate had stabilized under Vincent’s absolute authority. The remaining kapos were loyal, terrified, and eager to please the boss who had cheated death and crushed his enemies with ruthless efficiency.
However, a new challenge arose—not from guns or poisons, but from the federal government.
At 10:00 AM on a crisp autumn morning, a fleet of black sedans pulled up to the front gates of the estate. Federal agents from the Organized Crime Task Force, led by Special Agent Marcus Vance, stepped out with a federal search warrant.
Enzo rushed into the private dining room, where Vincent and Norah were finishing breakfast.
"Boss," Enzo reported quickly, his face grim. "It's the Feds. Vance has a warrant for the financial ledgers from the shipping docks."
Vincent didn't panic. He set his coffee cup down smoothly, dabbing his lips with a linen napkin. "Let them in, Enzo. Offer them coffee."
"Boss?" Enzo looked confused.
"Agent Vance has been chasing my family for fifteen years," Vincent said calmly, standing up and adjusting his jacket. "If we fight the warrant, it looks like we have something to hide. Let him search."
A few minutes later, Agent Vance—a tall, sharp-featured man with graying hair and cold, cynical eyes—marched into the main hall accompanied by six armed federal agents.
"Vincent," Vance said, offering a tight, humorless smile. "You look remarkably healthy for a man rumored to be six feet under."
"Reports of my demise were greatly exaggerated, Agent Vance," Vincent replied smoothly, standing at the foot of the grand staircase. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unannounced visit?"
Vance waved the paper in his hand. "Federal search warrant. We’re seizing all digital servers and paper ledgers related to the Red Hook terminal operations between 2022 and 2025."
Vance’s eyes then drifted past Vincent, landing on Norah, who stood quietly near the dining room doorway, holding a tray.
Vance frowned, stepping forward. "Norah Bennett?"
Norah’s heart skipped a beat. "Agent Vance?"
Vincent’s dark eyes narrowed instantly, a protective, lethal barrier dropping over his features. "You know my chef, Agent?"
"I know her family," Vance said, looking at Norah with a mix of pity and suspicion. "Her brother, Toby Bennett, was arrested in Miami three days ago for illegal gambling and wire fraud. During his interrogation, he claimed he was working for a subsidiary owned by the Rossy syndicate."
Norah paled, clutching the tray against her chest. "Toby... arrested?"
"Your brother is a liar and a degenerate gambler, Miss Bennett," Vance said coldly. "And he’s trying to cut a deal with the U.S. Attorney by claiming you placed him inside this house to collect information on Vincent Rossy in exchange for wiping his debts."
The room went dead quiet.
Enzo’s hand moved reflexively toward his weapon. The federal agents shifted their stances, their hands resting on their holsters.
Vincent didn't look at the agents. He slowly turned his head to look directly at Norah.
Norah felt as if the floor had vanished beneath her feet. The phantom of her deadbeat brother had returned to drag her back into the mud, threatening to destroy the love and trust she had built with Vincent.
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"Vincent..." Norah whispered, tears brimming in her eyes, her voice trembling with absolute horror. "I swear... I swear on my life... I didn't know. I haven't spoken to Toby in over a year! I didn't even know where he was!"
Every eye in the room was locked on Vincent Rossy, waiting to see if the terrifying mob boss would snap and order the woman thrown into the basement.
