Chapter 7 - The Ghost in the Shadows
The victory at Vance Tower felt sweet, but peace in high society never lasted long.
Two weeks after Marcella’s arrest, Nico was working late in his penthouse office on the seventy-second floor. The rain was drumming rhythmically against the panoramic windows, painting streaks across the glittering Manhattan skyline. On his desk sat a mountain of forensic accounting files detailing millions of dollars Marcella had routed through international shell companies.
The private phone on his desk buzzed. It was an unlisted satellite number.
Nico picked it up, pressing the receiver to his ear. "Speak."
"Mr. Vance," a distorted, synthetic voice murmured on the other end. "You think putting your sister in a high-security holding cell solved your problems? You only cut off one snake's head. The body is still moving."
Nico's grip on the handset tightened. "Who is this?"
"Check your email. The five-million-dollar rehearsal dinner wasn't Marcella's idea. She was following orders from the cartel that laundered your father's overseas debt. You have forty-eight hours to deliver the offshore account keys from Arthur's USB drive, or your sweet little sister won't live to see her eighteenth birthday."
Click. The line went dead.
At that exact second, Nico's computer pinged. An encrypted video attachment popped up on his screen.
Nico clicked the file. His blood ran cold.
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The video was a live feed of Vivia’s private dormitory at Columbia University. A red laser dot was hovering steadily over the back of Vivia's head as she sat at her desk studying, completely oblivious to the sniper positioned on the rooftop across the street.
"Rafe!" Nico bellowed into his intercom, slamming his palm onto the desk as he reached for his concealed Glock. "Get the armored Maybach to the front lobby now! They're targeting Vivia!"
