Cole emailed me at 2:17 that afternoon. I knew the address before I opened it. I had kept email unblocked because my lawyer told me written threats were evidence. For eight weeks, Cole had mostly sent anger. You ruined everything. Call me. You owe me an explanation.

Th

The fake eastern corridor route took forty minutes to build. Roman's people could have done it in five. I made them slow down.

"No real dock workers."

Marco nodded. "No real weapons."

"None."

"No actual truck number somebody could accidentally stop."

"Fake."

I point

Roman called command together before sunset. This time, nobody looked annoyed that I was in the room. They looked nervous. Paolo sat on the left. Victor on the right. Three other senior men filled the remaining chairs. Salvatore's chair stayed empty. Roman placed three th