Shelby
In the conference room at Syndicate headquarters, Dave is leading our Tuesday meeting.
“Quarterly reports are solid across all territories,” he says, flipping through documents on the table.
“The legitimate businesses are outperforming projections. The foundation Serena launched is getting national attention. And our intelligence operations have led to the recovery of seventy-three trafficking victims in the past six weeks.”
“Seventy-three lives saved. Great job. It’s proof that we can be more than the darkness we were born into,” I comment.
“Which brings us to the real reason for this meeting.” Dave nods toward Nikolai, who’s been unusually quiet since he arrived. “Nikolai has new intelligence. I’ll let him present it.”
The Russian stands, moving to the screen at the front of the room. His eyes are sharp, focused. That’s the look he gets when he’s been hunting something for months and finally catches a scent.
“For two years, we’ve been chasing ghosts,” Nikolai begins.
“First, we thought Dracul was the man at the center of the trafficking network. Then, we learned there was another, the one who ordered hits on anyone who got too close to the truth.” His gaze flicks to me briefly. “Including Martha Boyle.”
I keep my expression neutral, but my hands curl into fists beneath the table.
“Then, we found out that Giovanni was protected by a man people call Vdovotvorets,” Nikolai continues. “The Widowmaker. And I’ve finally found a lead.”
He pulls up a map on the screen, marked with red dots forming a web across Europe and Asia. “One of my sources provided information that the Widowmaker and Dracul’s boss might be one and the same. There’s going to be a meeting. High-level. Invitation only. The Widowmaker will be there.”
“Do we have a name?” Tommy asks.
“Not yet.” Nikolai’s jaw tightens with frustration. “The man is careful. He’s built layers of protection around his identity that have taken decades to construct. But this meeting is our best chance to finally unmask him.”
Dave leans back in his chair, weighing the implications. Going after the Widowmaker means venturing into territory we’ve only skirted before. It means taking on an enemy whose reach extends far beyond anything we’ve dealt with.
“The Syndicate will provide full support,” Dave says. “Whatever resources you need to track down the Widowmaker and bring him to justice.”
Relief flickers across Nikolai’s features before he schools his expression back to neutral. “Thank you. This won’t be easy, but—”
“I want in.”
Every head turns toward Joe DiLorenzo.
Serena’s brother has been mostly silent since his father’s trial. He shows up to meetings, fulfills his obligations, but there’s a distance in him that wasn’t there before. A haunted quality that I recognize from my own mirror.
“Giovanni was working with this man,” Joe continues, his voice flat. “My father helped the Widowmaker destroy countless lives. I need to help end this.” He pauses, something raw flickering in his dark eyes. “I need to do something that matters.”
Nikolai studies him for a long moment and says, “Welcome to the team.”
Dave nods. “Then it’s settled. Nikolai, I want regular briefings as the operation develops. Joe, coordinate with our contacts who had ties to Giovanni’s network—anyone who might have information about the Widowmaker’s operations.”
The hunt for the Widowmaker is beginning. The darkness isn’t finished with us yet.