Chapter 9 - The Reckoning
The basement of St. Jude’s Cathedral was cold, dark, and smelled of damp stone and old oak.
Malcolm Croft sat on a wooden crate, his expensive suit rumpled, his hair messy. Vivien stood near the iron-reinforced door, pounding her fists against the wood until her hands were bruised.
"Let us out of here, you animals!" Vivien screamed. "Do you know who my father is?!"
The heavy iron bolt slid back with a loud, ominous CLANG.
The door swung open.
Arthur Romano stepped into the dim room. He had showered and changed into a fresh, tailored black suit, but the warmth he had shown in the hospital room was completely gone. He looked like an executioner.
Behind him stood Leo and eight heavily armed Romano soldiers, blocking the doorway completely.
Malcolm stood up, trying to regain his composure. "Arthur. This is a massive misunderstanding—"
Arthur moved so fast Malcolm didn't even see the blow coming.
PACK!
Arthur’s fist struck Malcolm across the jaw, sending the older man crashing onto the stone floor, spitting blood.
"Father!" Vivien shrieked, backing away against the wall.
Arthur didn't even look at her. He stepped over Malcolm, grabbing the older man by his collar and lifting him halfway off the floor with one arm.
"You poisoned my wedding wine," Arthur said, his voice dropping into a terrifying whisper. "You sent your daughter to threaten a pregnant woman. You almost killed my son."
Malcolm coughed, blood staining his white shirt, but he tried to sneer. "She's a nobody, Romano! A diner slut! You were going to ruin our merger for a—"
Arthur dragged Malcolm across the room and slammed his head against the stone wall. Malcolm groaned, collapsing into a heap.
"Listen to me very carefully, Malcolm," Arthur said, standing over him, his boots inches from the old man's face. "The Croft family is finished in Chicago."
Vivien gasped. "You can't destroy us! We control the docks!"
"I controlled the docks twenty minutes ago," Arthur corrected, turning his cold gaze onto her. "While you were sitting in the dark, Leo’s men raided your three main warehouses. Your lieutenants have already surrendered. Your shipping contracts have been transferred to the Romano network. By tomorrow morning, the Croft name will be completely wiped off the map."
Malcolm looked up, terror finally filling his eyes. "Arthur... please... we can make a deal..."
"There are no deals," Arthur said coldly. He pulled two thick envelopes from his jacket and tossed them onto the floor. "One-way tickets to a small village in northern Italy. You and your daughter leave on a private plane in two hours. You will never set foot in North America again. If either of you ever returns to Chicago, or if anyone carrying your blood goes near my wife or my son..."
Arthur leaned down, his face inches from Malcolm’s.
"...I will not lock you in a basement. I will hunt you down and bury you alive. Do you understand me?"
Malcolm nodded frantically, his arrogance completely shattered.
Arthur stood up, smoothing his jacket. He turned his back on them and walked toward the exit.
"Arthur!" Vivien cried out, her voice trembling. "She's just a waitress! She doesn't belong in your world!"
Arthur stopped at the doorway. He looked over his shoulder, a small, proud smile touching his lips for the first time all night.
May you like
"She saved my life, Vivien," Arthur said quietly. "She carries my heart, my son, and my name. She owns my world."
He stepped out, and the heavy iron door slammed shut behind him forever.
