Chapter 17 - The Trap Sprung|
Within thirty minutes, Luca arrived back at the mansion, flanked by six of his top enforcers.
The atmosphere in the grand drawing room was suffocatingly tense. Antonio Vance sat comfortably in Luca's leather armchair, sipping espresso, while his men stood guard around the room.
Luca stepped into the room, his face a mask of pure rage.
"Get out of my house, Vance," Luca commanded, his hand resting near his coat line.
Vance chuckled softly, setting his teacup down. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Luca. Your father made a deal with me when your mother died. He needed cash to hold Chicago, and I provided it—under one condition."
Vance gestured toward the ledger sitting on the table between them.
"The deal was simple," Vance explained calmly. "The Moretti family had to marry into the Bellini line to ensure stability. If the engagement was broken by your side, fifty percent of your territory, including this estate, defaults to my family."
Luca looked at the document on the table, his jaw tightening as he realized his father had bound him to an inescapable contract decades ago.
"You set this up from the beginning," Luca realized softly.
"Your father was desperate, Luca," Vance said smoothly, standing up with his cane. "You have twenty-four hours to sign over the shipping docks, or my men will take them by force. And believe me, Chicago won't survive the war."
May you like
Vance walked toward the door, stopping right beside me. He leaned in, whispering softly so only I could hear.
"You thought you were saving him, little girl," Vance sneered gently. "You actually destroyed him."
