Chapter 21 - A Midnight Knock Brings A Terrifying New Threat
Chloe smiled, letting him slide the ring onto her finger as she leaned in to kiss him in the warm sunlight.
The weeks that followed brought absolute peace to the Costa estate, cementing their alliance across the eastern seaboard.
Yet, deep inside the subterranean archives of Port Meridian, old syndicate ledgers remained hidden from federal view.
Late on a quiet Friday midnight, the automated security chime on the estate's iron gates echoed softly through the night.
Luciano walked down the long driveway under the pale glow of the security floodlights to inspect the perimeter.
There was no vehicle or person in sight along the dark, winding country road bordering the sprawling property.
Resting on the stone pillar was a plain black envelope sealed with an unfamiliar crimson wax stamp.
There was no return address or postal mark, only a chilling symbol carved directly into the hardened red wax.
Luciano picked it up with a gloved hand, unlocked the pedestrian gate, and sliced open the seal with his pocket knife.
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Inside lay a single photograph of Chloe walking outside her Manhattan office earlier that afternoon, alongside a handwritten note:
“You survived the Romanos and Bellinis, Luciano... but the true sovereign of the eastern syndicate has finally returned to claim his throne.”
