Chapter 12 - Back to Chicago
Silas Costello owned freight aircraft.
Not officially.
Officially, Costello Global leased cargo capacity through independent carriers.
Unofficially, Silas could get almost anything airborne.
Within eighteen minutes, they were aboard a Gulfstream headed west.
Federal agents were furious.
Silas didn’t care.
Elena sat across from Khloe.
Neither woman spoke for several minutes.
Finally Elena said, “He trusts you.”
Khloe knew she meant Matteo.
“He needed someone to communicate with.”
Elena looked at her hands.
“I learned sign language after Rosa contacted me.”
Khloe stared.
“You talked to Rosa?”
“For almost a year.”
“Why didn’t you come back then?”
“Because Rosa begged me not to.”
Silas overheard.
“Why?”
Elena looked at him.
“She said Helena was watching everyone.”
Silas laughed bitterly.
“My entire life was built inside my mother’s cage.”
Elena whispered, “Yes.”
For the first time, Silas looked truly tired.
Not dangerous.
Not powerful.
Just tired.
Khloe thought about the boy asking whether his father was bad.
Maybe children asked the hardest questions because they hadn’t learned how to hide from answers.
Victor interrupted.
“We have movement at the mill.”
Satellite security feed showed three SUVs.
One ambulance.
Silas stared.
“Why an ambulance?”
Elena answered.
“Dr. Mercer.”
Khloe’s stomach turned.
“They’re going to drug Matteo again.”
Victor checked the deadline.
Nine minutes.
Silas’s phone rang.
Helena.
“You’re running out of time.”
Silas replied, “Send the transfer documents.”
“They’re already in your inbox.”
Victor opened them.
Complete control transfer.
Silas took the laptop.
He started signing electronically.
Khloe stared.
“Silas.”
He didn’t look up.
“What?”
“If you give her everything, you lose your leverage.”
“I’m not trading leverage for my son.”
Elena watched him.
Khloe realized something.
Helena expected Silas to refuse.
Expected his pride to win.
Maybe signing was the move she hadn’t planned for.
Silas completed the transfer.
“Done.”
Helena went silent.
Then:
“You signed?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
Victor stared.
Helena’s breathing changed.
For the first time—
she sounded uncertain.
“Then turn around.”
Silas smiled.
“No.”
“Silas.”
“You wanted my company. You have it.”
“Turn around.”
“I’m coming for my son.”
“You’ll have nothing.”
“I already have nothing.”
He looked at Elena.
Then at Khloe.
Then at the photograph of Matteo on his phone.
“Nothing I care about more than him.”
He ended the call.
Victor leaned over.
“You realize those signatures are legally binding.”
Silas handed him the laptop.
“Then I’m unemployed.”
Victor almost laughed.
Khloe did.
For one second.
Then the pilot shouted from the cockpit.
“Brace!”
A warning alarm screamed.
The jet banked sharply.
Something streaked past the window.
Victor looked outside.
“What the hell was that?”
The pilot yelled:
“Drone!”
Another impact slammed the wing.
The cabin shook violently.
Elena grabbed the seat.
Silas looked at the flight display.
They were descending.
Again.
Khloe couldn’t believe it.
Victor checked his phone.
Signal vanished.
Then the pilot’s voice came through.
“We can’t reach Chicago.”
Silas stared.
“Where can we land?”
The answer came back.
“Gary.”
Everyone went silent.
Helena had forced them exactly where she wanted them.
May you like
Again.
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