Chapter 14 - THE FINAL CLEANUP
By sunrise, the threat of the Montigue faction was permanently eradicated. Hector Montigue and his associates were handed over to federal authorities along with mountain-loads of evidence regarding their international smuggling operations.
Deep beneath the Blackwood estate, in Visiting Room B of the lower level, Serena Montigue sat behind a reinforced glass window.
She looked broken, her spirit completely crushed after weeks of isolation.
The steel door opened, and Lilianna walked in. She was dressed in an exquisite ivory suit, carrying a sleek black leather folder.
Serena looked up, her hollow eyes filling with a mixture of bitter jealousy and profound terror.
Lilianna sat down on the wooden chair opposite the glass and picked up the phone receiver. Serena hesitantly picked up hers.
"Why are you here?" Serena rasped, her voice raspy and dry. "To mock me?"
"No," Lilianna replied, her tone level and cool. "I came to give you an update. Your uncle Hector was arrested at the docks last night. The entire Montigue estate has been liquidated to pay for the medical trust established for Ethan."
Serena’s hands shook against the glass. "That boy... he’s fine, isn't he?"
"Ethan is thriving," Lilianna said softly. "His cast came off yesterday. He took his first steps this morning."
A single tear rolled down Serena’s dirt-streaked cheek. "You took everything from me... my life, my marriage, my name..."
"You threw them away the moment you raised your foot against a child," Lilianna corrected firmly. "You thought power was about hurting those who couldn't fight back. You were wrong. Power is about protecting the ones you love."
May you like
Lilianna set the phone down on its hook, stood up, and adjusted her coat.
"You will be transferred to a minimum-security facility in Oregon tomorrow," Lilianna added before leaving. "Live a quiet life, Serena. And never step foot in Chicago again."
