Chapter 12 - The Serpent's Hive
Sal followed the security chief into the communications bunker hidden behind the estate's wine cellar. Six wall-mounted monitors glowed with live intelligence feeds, satellite imagery, and encrypted audio transcripts.
""What do we have, Marcus?"" Sal demanded, leaning over the console.
Marcus tapped a key, bringing up a live feed from a private airstrip outside Teterboro, New Jersey. A Gulfstream jet sat idling on the runway, surrounded by three black armored Suburbans.
""The yacht was destroyed, Boss,"" Marcus explained. ""Victor Cole is dead. But Cole wasn't running Ouroboros. We traced the financial routing Julian used to a shell entity registered in Zurich. The actual principal is sitting on that tarmac right now, preparing to depart for Switzerland.""
""Show me the manifest,"" Sal ordered.
The screen zoomed in on a high-definition telephoto shot of the aircraft's boarding stairs. Walking up the steps was a woman in her late forties, wearing an immaculate white cashmere trench coat, her platinum blonde hair cut into a sharp bob. In her hand, she carried a titanium briefcase.
Sal froze. For the first time that night, genuine shock cut through his stoic composure.
""Victoria,"" Sal muttered under his breath.
""You know her, Boss?"" Frank asked, stepping up behind him.
""She’s Victor Cole's daughter,"" Sal said, his voice laced with venom. ""When Victor fled thirty years ago, he sent his family to Zurich. She runs the European private equity desks now. She wasn't just clearing Julian's debts; she was orchestrating this whole coup to claim the entire eastern seaboard.""
""They're taking off in twenty minutes,"" Marcus warned. ""Once they hit international airspace, they're untouchable.""
Sal stood up straight, his presence dominating the bunker. ""No plane leaves American airspace with a target on my family.""
""What are your orders, Mr. Moretti?""
Sal turned to Frank. ""Call the port authority at Newark. Tell them there is a high-level biological contraband hazard on that Gulfstream. Ground the airport entirely. Lock the runway gates.""
""And if they try to force takeoff?"" Frank asked.
Sal pulled his heavy watch off his wrist and placed it on the console. ""They won't get the chance. I'm going to meet her myself.""
Elena stepped into the doorway of the bunker, leaning against the frame, holding baby Leo wrapped in a warm blanket. ""Dad, wait.""
Sal stopped, looking at his daughter.
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""Take this with you,"" she said, pulling a heavy signet ring from her finger—the ring Julian had given her on their wedding day, bearing his family crest. ""He gave her access using our names. Show her that the name belongs to you now.""
Sal took the ring, closed his fist around it, and gave her a sharp nod. ""Lock the gates behind me. I’ll be back before breakfast.""
