Chapter 3 - The Underboss Who Built a Lie
Silas Costa did not run because he was afraid.
He ran because he had a plan.
By sunrise, every major screen in Chicago carried the same news: Romano Freight was under investigation for financial irregularities, environmental violations, and suspected connections to illegal property transfers.
Anonymous documents had been sent to reporters.
The evidence looked real.
Too real.
Vincent watched the coverage from the secure floor of his downtown office while Lydia sat at a conference table surrounded by forensic accountants.
“This is his backup plan,” Bruno said. “If he cannot take the company quietly, he destroys its reputation.”
“And Westbrook buys the assets after the stock collapses,” Lydia said.
The accountants looked at her.
She had spent years doing bookkeeping for small businesses, balancing invoices after midnight and cleaning records for restaurant owners who could not afford full-time financial staff.
Now she studied Romano Freight’s ledgers.
The numbers told a story.
Silas had hidden the truth behind complicated routes, false vendor invoices, and layered shell companies.
But he had made one mistake.
He assumed no one would look at the smallest details.
“These codes repeat,” Lydia said, pointing to a screen. “Every time money is moved through one of the shell firms, the shipping date changes—but the insurance invoice number stays the same.”
One accountant leaned forward.
“You’re right.”
Lydia traced the transfers.
“Silas did not only steal money. He used company trucks to move documents and equipment for Westbrook. The fake environmental violations are tied to land he wanted to make worthless.”
Vincent watched her closely.
“You found that in thirty minutes.”
“I have been underestimated for twenty-four years,” Lydia said. “It makes people careless around me.”
For the first time, Vincent smiled.
It was brief.
Sad.
But real.
Then the flash drive decrypted.
A technician projected the files onto the wall.
A video appeared.
Isabella stood in a private office, pale and frightened, speaking directly to the camera.
“Vincent, if you are seeing this, something has happened to me.”
Vincent stopped breathing.
“I found proof that Silas is working with Adrian Cole. They are using Romano Freight to hide illegal transfers and force families out of the lakeside district. Silas told me he would destroy you if I spoke.”
The video shook slightly.
Then Isabella’s voice softened.
“I know you will blame yourself. Do not. But please, Vincent—do not let grief turn you into the man they want you to become.”
The screen went black.
No one moved.
Vincent looked down.
Lydia saw tears gather in his eyes.
Then another file opened.
It was a map.
A warehouse near the old freight corridor had been circled in red.
A final note appeared beneath it:
THE ORIGINAL RECORDS ARE HERE. TRUST NO ONE EXCEPT BRUNO.
Bruno’s face hardened.
Silas had known about the files.
That was why he fled.
He was going to destroy the evidence before the acquisition closed.
Vincent reached for his coat.
“Get the cars.”
Lydia stood too.
Vincent looked at her.
“No.”
“She left the message for me too,” Lydia said. “I am going.”
“This is not your fight.”
“It became my fight the night I saw your wife trapped in that car.”
Vincent looked like he wanted to argue.
Then he stopped.
“Stay beside Bruno,” he said.
Lydia nodded.
May you like
Outside, Chicago was waking beneath gray skies.
But near the lake, in an abandoned warehouse filled with secrets, Silas was preparing to erase the truth forever.
