Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Gift of Loyalty
The briefing was over. Santiago and his two associates stood ready to leave, their faces set with new purpose.
"We understand the mission, Boss," Santiago said, adjusting the collar of his worn denim jacket. "Vance will regret poking around your business." He then reached into an inner pocket and pulled out a worn manila envelope. "Before we go, we want to show you our sincerity."
Santiago placed the thick folder on Ethan’s desk. "Open it, Boss."
Ethan looked at the folder, then back at Santiago, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He opened the clasp and pulled out a stack of legal documents—mostly property deeds and lease agreements. His eyes quickly scanned the names and addresses. There were contracts for more than ten apartment buildings in the Dorchester area.
"What is this?" Ethan asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"All of that was owned by Mr. Henderson, the ex-husband of Ms. Wells," Santiago explained, nodding toward Cassandra. "He kept them hidden, running them under shell companies so the city and the IRS wouldn’t notice. We knew about them."
"We made him sign it all over, nice and neat, before we... dealt with him," one of Santiago’s men added with a chilling lack of emotion.
Cassandra gasped softly, covering her mouth with her hand. She hadn’t known the true extent of Henderson’s hidden wealth.
"We also talked to his lawyer, a guy named Mr. Davies," Santiago continued, his chest puffing out slightly with pride. "Davies will take care of everything. We’ll make it look like a natural death—a heart attack from all that stress, you know. Then, Ms. Wells inherits everything directly. No intervention from us, no suspicion."
[Boom! That’s 10 more properties! Congratulations, Champion! Your net worth just skyrocketed! And you didn’t even have to pull the trigger! That’s $50,000,000 in passive wealth Lux Points! Or less than 1 point hahaha] The System sarcastically sang his praises.
"Also, Boss," Santiago said, dropping a business card onto the desk. "Mr. Davies specifically asked me to pass a message along. He’s asking for an audience to put himself at your service. He wants to switch teams, if you know what I mean."
Ethan smiled, a slow, genuine smile. This was more than just loyalty; it was power consolidation. "This is an excellent display of loyalty, Santiago. You made the right choice."
"We know where the real power is, Boss," Santiago replied, his tone firm.
Ethan picked up the lawyer’s card. "Alright, I’ll call him when I have some free time. For now, focus on Congressman Vance. Get me the dirt."
Santiago and his crew nodded, their mission clear, and quickly departed the mansion, leaving the overwhelming opulence behind them.
Ethan looked at the contracts, then at Cassandra, whose eyes were wide with shock.
"You’re rich, Cassandra," Ethan told her simply. "Very rich."
"Everything I have is yours, Ethan," Cassandra immediately responded, her voice trembling slightly. "I’ll transfer it all to you right now."
"No," Ethan replied, shaking his head. "Don’t. It would raise immediate suspicion. There’s no adequate justification for a sudden transfer of ten apartment buildings from a widow to a recent acquaintance."
Ethan walked over to a wet bar and poured a glass of deep red wine, taking a thoughtful sip. "I know exactly what we’ll do."
He turned back to Jason and Cassandra. "Jason, tomorrow, take her to see Rossi. They need to devise a plan to create a financial entity—a holding company or a development firm—that can justify massive expenses for renovation." Ethan looked at Cassandra. "You will join as a primary partner, and Jason and I will join as secondary investors. This justifies the incoming wealth and the massive spending that will follow."
"Understood, Boss," Jason confirmed.
"Also, this lawyer, Davies," Ethan continued, tapping the business card. "Have him handle all the property transfer paperwork, but place him under special surveillance. He might try to screw us over."
"Is it safe to trust Davies at all, Boss?" Jason asked. "He knows too much. Maybe it’s better to take him out once and for all."
Ethan took another drink of his wine, looking first at Jason, then at Cassandra. "No. Right now, the man is an accessory to murder and dispossession. He knows what we are capable of. If he screws with us, the best thing that can happen to him is to go bankrupt or simply disappear. I’m not overly worried about him."
[He’s a man who understands leverage! He is becoming a true Gangster-Capitalist! I love it!] The System cheered mentally.
A moment later, Santiago returned to the room, followed by his two men. "Boss, we’ll be moving out immediately. We won’t fail you."
"Good," Ethan said, walking with them toward the front entrance. He stopped just short of their dusty sedan, his voice dropping to an authoritative low. He spoke to Santiago, but his message was for all of them. "You had better behave. You are now my image in the underworld. I want you to start scouting and expanding in the area."
"If you need money to arm your men and organize them, do it," Ethan authorized. "But I want no nonsense with drugs, kidnapping, or arms trafficking. Your businesses must be relatively legal, focusing on information and protection. Am I clear?"
Santiago hastened to respond. "Yes, Boss! We will not fail you. Information and protection."
Ethan watched them go, then turned to walk back into the house. Jason followed closely, his expression tight.
"I don’t trust Santiago and his people, Boss," Jason stated, his usual impassiveness momentarily replaced by doubt. "It’s not about being racist against Mexicans, but I don’t trust him. He sold out to you way too fast."
Ethan walked over to the kitchen island and leaned against it, taking a slow sip of his wine. He looked at Jason, his eyes reflecting a cold, strategic depth.
"Wild dogs must be kept close, Jason," Ethan explained calmly. "They seem intelligent enough. We need a face in the underworld." He gestured vaguely toward the city skyline. "I know the area where those buildings are. There are several gangs there, not just the Dukes. If we don’t corner one of them, they’ll all come to extort us."
"It was only a matter of time until we chose one to use to massacre the others," Ethan finished, the brutality of the statement delivered with the casualness of a man discussing stock options.
Jason nodded, accepting the logic. It was less about trust and more about leverage and territorial control.