Chapter 14 - HUNT IN THE SHADOWS|
While the federal government dismantled Julian Vance and Dominic Thorne’s legal operations, the remnants of Thorne's syndicate were panicking.
Word had spread through the Chicago underworld that Adrian Vale was systematically liquidating his entire freight empire—not to save himself, but to fund a federal sting operation that was tearing down every corrupt politician and mob boss connected to Thorne.
In a hidden warehouse near the docks, Thorne's top surviving enforcer, a killer named Viktor, gathered three remaining mercenaries.
"Vale turned state's evidence," Viktor growled, loading a heavy magazine into his rifle. "If he lives until the trial, we all go down for life. The wife is still in ICU at St. Catherine's. He spends every night in that room alone."
"The hospital has security," one mercenary pointed out.
"Hospital security carries clipboards," Viktor sneered. "We hit the room at 2:00 A.M. We finish the woman, we take out Vale, and we leave in the chaos."
What Viktor didn't know was that Adrian’s security chief, Marcus, had wiretapped every burner phone associated with Thorne's old crew.
At 11:00 P.M., Marcus walked into ICU Room 3, bowing his head respectfully to Adrian, who was sitting in his usual chair reading aloud to Elena from her favorite book.
"Boss," Marcus whispered. "Viktor is moving on the hospital tonight. Four men. Armed."
Adrian didn't pause his reading. He finished the paragraph, closed the book gently, and set it on the nightstand.
He stood up, adjusting the cuffs of his dark sweater.
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"Did you notify the police?" Marcus asked.
"No," Adrian replied softly, his eyes turning to black ice. "If the police come, they'll make noise and shock Elena's system. We handle this quietly in the hallway."
