Chapter 6 - The Trojan Horse
The Valente Tower was an Art Deco masterpiece on Michigan Avenue, a gleaming spire of steel and glass that dominated the skyline. It was known as "The Fortress" in the underworld.
At 11:30 PM, a battered sedan pulled up to the service entrance. Colette was driving. Hestia was in the back seat, wearing a newly purchased, expensive leather collar that Colette had modified using her sewing kit. The modified SD card and David’s letter were sealed inside the leather fold.
Colette got out of the car and opened the back door. Hestia stepped out, looking magnificent and healthy, her black coat gleaming under the streetlights.
She walked to the service entrance, where two large armed guards stood watch.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" one of them asked, his hand hovering near his holster.
"Yes," Colette said, her voice calm. "I have a delivery for Mr. Valente. A very important delivery."
The guard looked at her, then at the dog, then back at her. "A delivery? At this hour? Mr. Valente isn't accepting deliveries."
"This is from Hestia," Colette said. "His goddess of the hearth."
The guard frowned, looking confused. "Hestia?"
"Yes," Colette said. "The dog."
Nico’s obsession with Greek mythology, and his recent acquisition of a Neapolitan mastiff, was a well-known fact among his inner circle.
"Wait here," the guard said, and he spoke into his radio.
A few minutes later, the heavy metal door opened, and Pierce, Nico’s driver and head of security, stepped out. He looked at Colette, then at the dog. His face hardened.
"You," Pierce said. "The girl from the overpass."
"Yes," Colette said. "I have something for Mr. Valente. It's urgent. It's a matter of life and death."
"Mr. Valente is in a private meeting," Pierce said. "He's not to be disturbed."
"If you don't show him this," Colette said, "his meeting tomorrow night will be his last."
Pierce looked at her, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. He knew Nico was under pressure. He knew the empire was unstable. He looked at the dog, at the expensive collar.
"Give it to me," Pierce said.
"I can't," Colette said. "He has to take the collar off her himself. It's... it’s a sentimental thing. From her... from her previous owner."
A lie, but it was a good one. It played on the sentimentality that Nico despised, but which Pierce knew existed beneath the surface.
Pierce hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Come with me. But the dog stays here."
"No," Colette said. "The dog comes with me. If she gets separated from her collar... it breaks the spell."
Another lie. But Pierce, desperate and weary, bought it.
"Okay," Pierce said. "But if you try anything... you won't live to regret it."
Colette, Hestia, and Pierce entered the service elevator. They rode it to the 52nd floor.
The penthouse was a sprawling expanse of glass and minimalist luxury, decorated with priceless art and artifacts. In the living room, a fire crackled in a massive marble fireplace.
Nico stood by the window, his back to them. He was on the phone.
"I don't care what it costs," Nico said into the phone, his voice tight with fury. "I want the leak found. I want them skinned."
He turned around, his eyes blazing. They softened, just for a fraction of a second, when he saw Hestia.
"What is this?" Nico demanded, ending the call.
"Boss," Pierce said, stepping forward. "This woman... she says she has something for you. From the dog."
Nico looked at Colette, recognition dawning. "The sidewalk girl." He sneered. "You're a long way from the South Side."
"I'm here," Colette said, her voice steady, "to save your life, Mr. Valente."
Nico laughed, a cold, harsh sound. "Save my life? You? You can't even save yourself."
"Frank Gallo is stealing from you," Colette said. "He’s been stealing from you for seven years. He’s working with Lorenzo Vitale. He owns your empire, Mr. Valente. And tomorrow night, at the docks, they're going to kill you."
The silence in the room was absolute. Nico stared at her, his expression unreadable.
"You're insane," Nico said quietly. "Frank Gallo is my brother."
"No," Colette said. "He's your executioner."
She walked over to Hestia and knelt down. "Give him the collar, Hestia."
She unbuckled the collar and held it out to Nico.
Nico looked at the collar, then at Colette. Slowly, he reached out and took it.
"There's a slit in the leather," Colette said. "On the inside."
Nico examined the collar. He found the stitching Colette had redone, not as neatly as before, but securely. He used a small knife from his pocket to cut the thread.
He pulled out the SD card and David’s letter.
He looked at Colette. "You have a computer?"
Nico walked to his desk and inserted the card into his computer. He opened the letter first, reading it with a growing pallor. Then he opened the files.
His face, usually a mask of control, crumpled. He sat down in his chair, putting his head in his hands. He looked older, suddenly. Broken.
"Frank," he whispered. "My Frank."
For ten minutes, the only sound in the room was the crackling fire and Nico’s ragged breathing.
Finally, he looked up. The vulnerability was gone, replaced by a cold, terrifying resolve.
"How do you have this?" Nico asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
"I found the dog," Colette said. "She was wearing the collar. I found the card. I found an accountant. I put it together."
"You didn't go to the police," Nico stated.
"My father was a good man," Colette said. "He was a veterinarian on the South Side. He was shot dead thirteen years ago. The police didn't care then. I didn't think they'd care now."
Nico looked at her, a flicker of respect in his eyes. He remembered his driver’s words: She just spent her last dollar on three dying dogs. Compassion was a luxury. But it was also a weapon.
"Tomorrow night," Nico said. "The docks."
"It’s a trap," Colette said.
"I know," Nico said. "Now I know who the enemy is."
He stood up and walked to a safe hidden behind a painting. He opened it and pulled out two heavy-duty pistols and a stack of cash.
"Pierce," Nico barked.
"Boss," Pierce stepped forward.
"Get the strike team ready. We're going to the docks. But we're not going to Milwaukee."
Nico turned to Colette. "You can't go home tonight. They might be watching you. Pierce will take you to a safehouse."
"I have three dogs in my car," Colette said. "And a mother in a nursing home."
Nico looked at her. "They'll be taken care of. You have my word."
He walked over to Hestia and knelt down, stroking her head. The dog licked his hand.
"Thank you, Hestia," Nico whispered.
May you like
He stood up and looked at Colette. "You did a good thing on that overpass, Colette. Maybe... maybe compassion isn't a luxury."
He turned Gallo’s empire—and his own life—into a battle plan.
