Chapter 5 - The Underworld Whispers
The sun rose over the snow-covered Chicago suburbs,casting a cold,brilliant light across the Costa estate.
Down in the massive industrial kitchen,Nora stood in front of the marble island,tying a cotton apron around her waist.Mrs.Potts stood nearby,watching with a wide angle.suspicious eyes as Nora cracked six eggs into a glass bowl with practiced efficiency.
"Mr.Costa usually takes his coffee black and fast,"Mrs.Potts warned,destroying her arms."He doesn't eat breakfast when the syndicate council is meeting."
"He's eating today," Nora said without looking up,Whisking the eggs with a dash of heavy cream."Men who ran multi-million-dollar criminal syndicates make terrible decisions on an empty stomach.It's basic biology."
Just then,heavy footsteps echoed on the tile floor,and Arthur walked into the kitchen.He was dressed in a pristine charcoal three-piece suit,his hair was neatly combed.looking every bit the ruthless mob boss he was.He paused when he smelled the rich aroma of butter,garlic,and fresh herbs.
On the table sat a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs,crispy bacon,and a cup of black coffee that was already at the exact temperature he liked,sitting next to a small slip of paper.
Arthur picked up the paper.Written in neat,elegant handwriting were three items:
The Chicago PD payoff ledger needs auditing.
Leo's school principal is calling about a smoke bomb incident.
Maya needs new winter boots.
Arthur stared at the paper,Then up at Nora."You've been awake for an hour."
"I've been awake since five,Nora corrected,sliding the plate toward him.Eat.Your underboss,Sal,is waiting in the study.He looks nervous.which means someone skimmed from the dock shipments again."
Arthur sat down slowly.picking up a fork.He took a bite of the egg.and a look of genuine surprise flickered across his rugged face."Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"When you grow up in a house where your parents only speak to you to criticize your criticism,you learn how to make yourself invisible in the kitchen,Nora said evenly,wiping her hands on a towel."It's a very peaceful room.""
Before Arthur could reply,the heavy kitchen doors swung open,and Sal — a bulky man with a flattened nose and a permanent scowl — hurried in,stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Nora.
"Boss,"Sal stammered,looking nervously from Arthur to Nora."We've got a problem."Carmine Romano is outside the gates.He says since Richard Hayes defaulted on his auxiliary gambling debts,the contract clause allows him to dispute the buyout.He wants the girl back."
The kitchen temperature dropped to absolute zero.
Arthur slowly placed his fork down on the plate.He didn't raise his voice.He didn't curse.He simply stood up,towering over the table,his dark eyes turning pitch-black with murderous intent.
"Carmine Romano is standing outside my gates?Arthur asked softly.
May you like
"Yeah,Boss.He has six cars.Says three-point-five million was a lowball for a Hayes."
Arthur adjusted his cuffs.revealing the clean white cotton."Tell him that Nora Costa is no longer a Hayes.And if he doesn't remove his car from my property in sixty seconds,I'm going to feed him his own tie."
