Chapter 3 - Poison in the Teacup
By noon, the estate was crawling with district bosses, city councilmen, and corporate lawyers summoned by Victor Caruso. They gathered in Anthony’s mahogany library under the pretense of an emergency council meeting to protect Caruso Enterprises from a hostile takeover. In reality, it was a coronation.
Victor sat behind Anthony’s massive antique desk, reviewing a stack of thick legal documents with a sleek gold Montblanc pen poised between his fingers.
""Anthony’s personal will leaves fifty-one percent of the voting shares in Caruso Maritime and Construction to me in the event of his death or prolonged incapacitation,"" Victor announced smoothly to the room of solemn men. ""Our corporate counsel has already verified the wet signatures. We submit this to probate court tomorrow morning.""
Standing near the library bar, pouring scotch for the nervous union delegates, Samuel watched Victor like a hawk. He knew that signature was a complete fabrication. Anthony had sworn on his mother’s grave five years ago that Victor would never control a single share of the legitimate shipping lines. Anthony had known his cousin was a reckless sociopath who would drag the entire family back into racketeering and extortion.
Samuel slipped quietly out of the library, his heart pounding against his ribs. He had to get to the basement, but Victor’s two personal enforcers—heavyset brutes named Marco and Leo—were stationed near the main kitchen staircase. Going down from the inside was suicide. There was only one other way in: the old storm cellar doors located outside in the rose garden, overgrown with thorny ivy and padlocked since 1985.
As Samuel made his way down the service corridor toward the back porch, he heard a sudden crash from the scullery, followed by a sharp cry.
Samuel pushed the swinging door open and stopped dead.
Maria was on her knees, clutching her bruised arm against the kitchen tile. A porcelain teapot lay shattered across the floor, dark Earl Grey tea pooling around broken ceramic shards. Standing over her was Marco, Victor’s chief enforcer, his heavy face flushed red with unprovoked malice.
""I asked you for sugar five minutes ago, you stupid girl,"" Marco sneered, raising his hand again. ""You think because Anthony kept you around like a charity case that you run this kitchen? Clean this up with your apron before I teach you some real manners.""
""Hey!"" Samuel’s voice cracked like a whip across the room.
Marco turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as the old driver stepped forward. ""Back off, old man. Go wash the town car.""
""You touch that girl again, Marco, and I’ll put a tire iron through your windshield and your skull,"" Samuel said, his voice deadly level. He didn't raise his voice, but the cold venom in his tone made the younger thug hesitate. Samuel had buried men twice as tough as Marco before the punk was even born.
""Whatever,"" Marco muttered, spitting on the floor near Maria’s hand before shoving his hands into his pockets and walking out. ""You're both out on the street by Friday anyway.""
Samuel immediately dropped to his knees, helping Maria pull herself up. The young mother was weeping silently, her entire body shaking with terror.
""He's going to throw us out, Mr. Sam,"" she sobbed softly, clutching her bruised wrist. ""Where am I going to take Daisy? We don't have anywhere to go. Daniel's family is gone. Anthony was the only one who protected us.""
Samuel looked at her tear-streaked face, feeling an overwhelming surge of fierce protectiveness. Maria had served this house with quiet dignity for four years, asking for nothing, bearing her grief with grace, and raising a child who had just saved the Caruso empire without even knowing it.
""Listen to me, Maria,"" Samuel whispered fiercely, gripping her hands. ""Anthony isn't dead.""
Maria stopped crying instantly, her eyes widening in sheer shock. ""What?""
""Victor took him. He's got him locked in the wine vault beneath our feet. He's starving him so he can take the company without a fight.""
Maria clasped her hands over her mouth to smother a scream. ""Dear God in heaven... Anthony is alive?""
""He's alive, but he won't be for long if we don't move,"" Samuel said rapidly, his eyes darting toward the door. ""Daisy found him. She brought him water. That little girl kept him breathing.""
Maria sank against the kitchen counter, her knees giving out. Tears of pure shock poured down her cheeks. ""My Daisy? But how... how do we get him out? Victor has twenty armed men in this house!""
""Victor thinks he's the only one with loyal soldiers,"" Samuel sneered, pulling a small brass key from his inside pocket. ""Anthony’s father had a private crew down at the Brooklyn piers. Men who swore an oath of blood to the true Caruso line. I called them twenty minutes ago from the payphone down by the deli. They're on their way. But we need to keep Victor distracted until they get past the outer gates.""
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""What do you need me to do?"" Maria asked, her trembling voice suddenly hardening into something fierce and maternal. The meek housekeeper was gone; a mother ready to protect her home had taken her place.
""Victor ordered chamomile tea before the lawyers leave at four o'clock,"" Samuel said quietly. ""We're going to make sure he takes a very, very deep sleep.""
