Chapter 9 - A small white child casket rests under dim lights while memories of a fatal betrayal haunt the dark corners of the silent funeral hall today.
The dim lights casting shadows across the white casket created an eerie, theatrical atmosphere within the chapel.
Salvatore walked down the central aisle, his heavy boots making a hollow sound against the hardwood flooring.
The beige teddy bear seemed to stare back at him with glass bead eyes, reminding him of what was lost.
He paused at the heavy wooden threshold, looking back over his shoulder one final time before departure.
The US flag draped near the entrance fluttered softly as the vestry door swung open to let in fresh air.
"Make sure flowers are delivered daily," Salvatore commanded the caretaker standing nervously near the back rows.
"Yes, Mr. Sterling; I'll personally oversee it," the caretaker replied with a respectful, trembling bow.
Salvatore stepped out into the crisp autumn air of Chicago, greeted by a row of sleek black town cars.
His enforcers quickly fanned out, securing the perimeter and checking the surrounding rooftops for snipers.
Salvatore slid into the back seat of the lead vehicle, closing the heavy armored door with a satisfying thud.
Brun hopped into the front passenger seat with surprising agility for such a massive, heavy-set animal.
The driver engaged the transmission, pulling away smoothly from the church curb into the midday traffic.
Inside the cabin, the secure tablet continued blinking with incoming intelligence updates regarding the Zurich accounts.
Salvatore tapped the screen, scrolling through the names of corrupt politicians tied to the foreign syndicate's payroll.
"They thought they could buy my city," Salvatore murmured to himself, his voice dripping with icy disdain.
He picked up the encrypted satellite phone resting in the console slot to initiate a conference call.
May you like
"Wake up the capos; we're hitting every single safehouse on the West Side before sunset," Salvatore ordered into the receiver.
---
Related Stories
