LOGIN"Breaking news. A massive earthquake has struck Chicago's political scene. South Side Alderman Mark was taken into custody by the FBI last night, facing charges of massive corruption, money laundering, and ties to organized crime.""According to insiders, the evidence of his bribery is ironclad. Prosecutors say this anti-corruption sweep will tear out the South Side's illegal cash flow by the roots, and they are seeking the maximum sentence."I sat on my velvet sofa and hit mute on the remote.On the giant flat-screen TV, Mark’s hands were cuffed tightly behind his back. Two massive FBI agents roughly shoved him into an armored police vehicle. His face was swollen like a purple pumpkin. That arrogant swagger was totally gone. The only thing left in his eyes was a deeply satisfying, absolute despair.It had been three days.The storm sparked by a mere two hundred bucks had finally run its course.Sterling stood respectfully behind me, handing over a thick file with both hands."Miss Ri
With the property manager dealt with, my gaze fell back onto Mark and Brenda.Seeing this, Mark quickly crawled over and started bowing like his head was on a spring."Miss Ricci! Please give me a chance to make this right!"He smacked his forehead on the floor so hard it bled. His voice trembled violently."I'll give you everything I own! I have connections at City Hall! I can be a mole for the Ricci Family!""I have proof of other aldermen taking bribes, the Mayor's scandals—I can give you all of it!"I looked at this pathetic, begging dog with total disgust."Do you really think the Ricci Family needs a backstabbing rat like you?"Mark went dead pale. He knew damn well that to the Mob, a traitor is far worse than an enemy.I spoke slowly, every word carrying the weight of a death sentence."First. The paintings you ruined are worth two million dollars. I want that money in my account before sunrise.""Second. Romano. Every single shady business he runs with your backing—seize it all
The screams had drawn attention. Heavy footsteps echoed as Mr. Peterson, the property manager, rushed out of the stairwell, panting, a walkie-talkie in hand."What's going on? Someone said the penthouse..."He stopped mid-sentence. He took in the scene and froze solid.A dozen men in black, locked and loaded.A floor covered in blood and shattered glass.A half-dead Brenda.Mark, licking blood off the floor like a feral dog.And the terrifying Romano.Mr. Peterson’s legs turned to jelly. He collapsed onto the floor, a dark wet stain instantly spreading across his crotch.Then, the elevator doors opened again.A silver-haired man in a flawless suit rushed out, sweating profusely. He completely ignored Mark's silent pleas and walked straight up to me, giving a deep bow."Miss Ricci. I'm Sterling, the Consigliere of the Ricci Family. I also own this building. The second I heard what was happening, I rushed over."Sterling looked up, sweat beading on his forehead. "This is a failure of my
The hallway was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The only sound was Mark's heavy breathing and his smug chuckles.I leaned back in my chair, coldly watching this pathetic clown show.I let my gaze sweep over Romano.Just one look.The blood in Romano's veins practically turned to ice. Absolute terror gave the South Side Capo a terrifying burst of energy. He didn't dare waste another second talking.He swung his massive arm back and put every ounce of his strength into it.Smack!The sound wasn't just a smack. It was a wet, heavy CRACK. The unmistakable crunch of breaking bone.The fat-bellied Mark flew through the air like a broken ragdoll. He did a half-flip mid-air and slammed hard against the wall, sliding down into a heap like a pile of mud. He even left two streaks of blood on the wallpaper."Ahhh!" Mark let out a bloodcurdling scream like a slaughtered pig.He clutched his face as it ballooned into a purple, bruised mess. Seeing stars, he looked up in total shock and disbelief
The elevator light stopped at the penthouse.Ding.The metal doors slowly slid open."Who the fuck is messing with my wife?!"A fat man with a gut spilling over his belt stormed out. He wore an expensive but ill-fitting suit. His tie was crooked and his face was red. His arrogant roar echoed in the hall.It was the "all-powerful" Alderman Mark.He had probably been fantasizing about how to teach some clueless young girl a lesson. But the moment he saw the hallway, he froze in his tracks.Over a dozen heavily armed mobsters were staring dead at him.Over a dozen dark gun barrels aimed right at his chest.Mark shivered in terror. The fat on his face jiggled as cold sweat broke out.But then he spotted Romano, who had just stood up from the shattered glass. Because Romano had been kneeling with his back to the elevator, Mark entirely missed the pathetic display of him on his knees.The panic vanished. In its place came the most sickening ass-kissing I’d ever seen. He must've thought Brend
When Brenda heard me call Romano, she acted like it was the joke of the century.She was laughing so hard she was crying, slapping her thigh. "Jesus Christ! You can't be serious. You're calling Romano? Hahahaha!"The security guard cracked up too. "You're quite the actress, Miss Ricci! Do you have any idea who Mr. Romano is? You think name-dropping him will get his attention?"Brenda was breathless from laughing. "You think that name scares us? Romano owns the South Side. He so much as breathes and the whole city trembles. And you? You're just some little slut who thinks dropping his name gets you somewhere?""My husband, Mark, is one of his guys. Now, who the hell are you?"I watched their little show in silence, tapping my fingers against the wall.Brenda was on a roll. "That phone call was priceless! 'Bring your men'? 'Lick the blood off the floor'? What are you, auditioning for a gangster movie?"The guard shook his head, still chuckling. "Young women these days will say anything t







