Chapter 4 - The Harbor Syndicate
The interrogation of Daniel Hayes lasted four hours.
He did not survive it.
Before his heart failed in the basement of a harbor warehouse, Hayes confessed to three things: he had been promised forty percent of the Wolf Syndicate’s territory; he had been provided the grapefruit extract recipe by an outside party; and the takeover was backed by an international syndicate operating out of the eastern ports—the Morozov Clan.
By midnight, Graybridge was on high alert.
At Blackwood Estate, security had doubled. Patrols with attack dogs walked the perimeter, and heavy steel shutters sealed the ground-floor windows.
Inside his private study, Gideon sat behind a heavy oak desk, reviewing map overlays of the harbor terminals.
Norah stood near the window, watching the rain beat against the glass.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Gideon observed, setting down his pen.
“A man died today because of what I found,” Norah said quietly, without turning around.
“A man died today because he attempted to murder me,” Gideon corrected coldly. “There is a difference.”
“Is there?” Norah turned to face him. “You were going to kill him anyway, weren't you?”
Gideon leaned back, his dark eyes fixing onto hers. “Norah, when you live in my world, mercy is interpreted as weakness. If I let Hayes live, every man in this city would think they could put a knife in my back and bargain their way out. I survived twenty years in Graybridge because my enemies know there are no second chances.”
He stood up, walking across the room to stop beside her.
“Does that frighten you?”
Norah looked up at his tall, imposing frame. She felt the lethal danger that radiated from him, but beneath it, she also saw the fiercely protective man who had put his entire organization on guard to keep his people safe.
“It frightens me that I’m getting used to it,” she admitted softly.
Gideon’s mouth curved into a subtle smile. He reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch was surprisingly soft, sending a sudden warmth through her chest.
“You are safer in this house than anywhere else in the country, Norah,” Gideon said softly. “I give you my word.”
Before she could answer, Arthur entered the study, his face grave.
“Gideon,” Arthur said. “We have a problem at Pier 9. One of our cargo ships carrying electronic components was seized by federal agents ten minutes ago. They claim they received an anonymous tip about unregistered firearms.”
Gideon’s expression instantly turned to stone. “Which federal agent?”
“Agent Richard Vance. Marcus Vance’s brother.”
Norah’s mind raced, connecting the names instantly. “Marcus Vance was at the boardroom meeting today. He sat right next to Hayes. When Hayes was exposed, Marcus didn't look surprised—he looked relieved.”
Gideon looked at Norah, his eyes narrowing. “Go on.”
“Marcus knew Hayes was going to take the fall,” Norah explained, stepping toward the desk. “Hayes was the distraction. The real play isn't to kill you with poison anymore—it’s to cripple your supply chain using his brother’s federal authority, forcing your partners to abandon you.”
Arthur swore under his breath. “She’s right. If Pier 9 stays locked down, we lose fifty million dollars in international contracts by Friday.”
May you like
Gideon stared at the map on his desk, his jaw set hard.
“Then we need to talk to Agent Vance,” Gideon said quietly. He looked at Norah. “Pack your tablet, Miss Blake. You’re coming to the docks.”
