Chapter 18 #2
"Have Giulio investigate. Quietly. See what we can find about Rosa Vasquez and her connection to the FBI."
"And if she is compromised?"
"Then we have a much bigger problem than Viktor Kozlov.
Rosa's been with the family for twenty years—started in administrative work, then became Piero's assistant five years ago when he became my underboss.
He couldn't function without her. She handles everything—schedule, communications, logistics.
" I watched her disappear down the corridor. "She's family at this point."
After we'd composed ourselves, Piero said, "There's something you should know. About Bianca."
My expression hardened instantly. "What about her?"
"She came to see Paola yesterday. At the hospital."
I looked at Paola. "You saw Bianca?"
"Yes. I was going to tell you when you woke up. She apologized. Told me about Viktor's connections—FBI, backup plans. She seemed... genuinely sorry."
I didn't buy it. "Sorry doesn't erase what she did."
"I know. But she also told us valuable information. About Viktor's corruption, his contingencies."
Piero added, "She's been cooperative since we brought her back. Answered every question. Gave us details about Viktor's European operations."
"She's trying to save herself," I said flatly.
"Maybe. But she's also helping us."
I didn't trust Bianca. Probably never would. But if she was providing useful intelligence, that was worth something. Temporarily.
"What do you want to do with her?" I asked Paola.
The question surprised her. "You're asking me?"
"She's your sister. Your call."
Paola took a moment to think. "I want her to stay. Under guard still, but at the penthouse. Not sent away."
"Why?"
"Because she's family. And our baby should know their aunt. Even if their aunt made terrible choices."
My wife choosing mercy over vengeance. Choosing family despite betrayal.
It was one of the things I loved about her.
"Fine. She stays. But she earns her keep. She continues providing information on Viktor. The second she stops being useful, she's gone."
Paola nodded. "Fair."
Giulio appeared in the doorway, tablet in hand, expression grim.
"Boss. You're awake. Good."
"Status report."
"Viktor's in federal holding. Agent Munoz is handling the case but she warned us about his lawyers filing for bail."
"When's the hearing?"
"Monday. Three days from now."
Three days. Not much time.
"What are our chances of keeping him locked up?"
Giulio grimaced. "Fifty-fifty. He has money, connections, no prior convictions. Judge might grant bail with restrictions."
"Then we need leverage. Something that makes him too dangerous to release."
I thought through the chess board. "His own organization. Viktor built loyalty through fear and money. Take away the money, the fear disappears."
"You want to turn his people?"
"Some of them. The ones with families. The ones who'd rather live than die for Viktor's vendetta." I looked at Giulio. "We have Matteo. He knows Viktor's inner circle. Who's vulnerable?"
Giulio pulled up files on his tablet. "Viktor's underboss, Dmitri Volkov. Matteo's brother-in-law. He's always been more pragmatic than loyal."
"Approach him. Offer protection for his family in exchange for testimony against Viktor. Kidnapping. Attempted murder. RICO charges. Stack them so high no judge grants bail."
Paola spoke up. "You're dismantling his organization from the inside."
"Exactly. By Monday, Viktor will be alone. No money for bail, no allies, no leverage. Just a man facing multiple felonies."
Giulio nodded. "I'll reach out to Dmitri. Carefully."
"Use Matteo. Brother-in-law to brother-in-law. Frame it as protecting family from Viktor's inevitable fall."
After Giulio left, Paola said, "You're really going to dismantle Viktor's entire operation in three days?"
"I'm going to try. Viktor's power comes from fear. Break that, and he's nothing."
She studied me. "You've done this before."
"It's how my father consolidated power. How I maintained it after he died. Loyalty bought with fear doesn't last. Loyalty earned through respect does."
She kissed my forehead. "You're nothing like Viktor."
A nurse appeared. "Mr. Monti, you need to get back to your room. You've been up too long."
My body was screaming, pain radiating from my chest. Exhaustion pulling at my consciousness.
"I'll be back tomorrow," I told Piero.
"I'll be here. Not like I can leave."
Paola wheeled me back to my room. Getting from chair to bed was worse than before. I collapsed onto the mattress, breathing hard. Sweating.
"You pushed too hard," Paola scolded gently.
"Worth it. Needed to see him."
She adjusted my pillows. Fixed my IV.
"Rest now. Actually rest."
"Stay with me?"
"Always."
She climbed carefully into the hospital bed beside me, her head on my shoulder. My arm around her. Both of us battered but alive.
We were almost asleep when my phone buzzed. Paola reached for it.
She read it, then went very still.
"What?" I asked. Instantly alert.
She showed me the screen.
Congratulations on surviving Pier 76. But you should know—Viktor wasn't working alone. Someone in your family helped him. Sleep tight.
My entire body went rigid.
"Someone in my family?"
We stared at each other in the dim room. Not Piero—he'd been kidnapped, tortured. Not Giulio—he'd led the rescue.
But there were others. Distant cousins. Extended family.
"It could be a lie," Paola said, her voice tight with fear. "Viktor's people trying to create paranoia."
"Or it could be true."
My mind raced through the timeline. We'd never figured out how Viktor knew to grab Piero that exact morning.
"I think someone's been feeding him information all along. And they're still here. Still close to us."
The implications were staggering. A spy in the Monti family. Someone with access to schedules, plans, security protocols.
Paola's hand went protectively to her stomach. "If there's a spy in your organization—in your family—"
"Then we're not safe. Even with Viktor locked up. Even here."
She looked around the hospital room with new eyes. The guard outside could be compromised. The nurses. Anyone. "What do we do?"
My jaw set. Decision made. "We find them. Before they can do more damage."
"How? It could be anyone."
"Not anyone. Someone with access. Someone who knew our movements." I started making a mental list. Names. Faces. "We narrow it down. Watch everyone. Trust no one until we know."
"Cesare, that includes people you've known for years. People you consider family."
"I know."
The words were bitter. Tasted like betrayal and blood.
"But someone helped Viktor kidnap my brother. And I will find out who."
The paranoia settled over us like fog, thick and choking. Paola lay back down beside me. But neither of us slept.
We both knew the truth now.
The threat wasn't just Viktor.
The threat was inside our own walls.
And we had no idea who it was.