Chapter 13 - The SuccessorThe next morning, Vincent’s arrest became national news.
The Gambino Medical Network collapsed under federal investigation. Dozens of families came forward. Former employees revealed years of falsified records, coerced prescriptions, and hidden payments.
But Vincent’s warning remained.
The family had chosen a successor.
Simon knew who it was before the name appeared in the report.
His cousin, Adrian Gambino.
Adrian had been raised beside Simon after Simon’s father went to prison. He had smiled at family dinners, stood beside Elena at the wedding, and held one of the twins during their first photograph.
He had also disappeared the night Elena died.
Now he was in Chicago.
And he had control of half the family’s remaining operations.
Simon moved the twins to a safe house outside Connecticut.
Natasha went with them.
Not because of the contract.
Because she chose to.
The safe house was smaller than the penthouse. It had warm wooden floors, low lights, and a nursery with two cribs placed side by side.
For the first time, the twins slept without machines surrounding them.
Simon stood in the doorway.
“You could leave now.”
Natasha glanced at him.
“You’ve said that three times.”
“I want you to understand.”
“I understand.”
“What do you want?”
She looked at the babies.
“I want them to grow up without being afraid of every room they enter.”
Simon nodded.
“And you?”
“I want to finish my degree.”
“I can arrange that.”
“No.”
He stopped.
“I don’t want a favor,” she continued. “I want a scholarship. A real one. Through an independent foundation. No Gambino name.”
“That can be arranged.”
“And I want control over my debt.”
“It’s been transferred to a federal restitution program.”
Natasha looked surprised.
Simon continued, “The families of the patients will be compensated first.”
“And you?”
“I’m selling most of the network.”
“Why?”
“Because I built part of my life on money I never questioned.”
She studied him.
“That sounds like change.”
“It feels like punishment.”
“Those aren’t the same thing.”
Before he could reply, the front windows shattered.
Simon pushed Natasha to the floor.
A bullet struck the nursery wall.
The twins began crying.
Simon crawled toward the security panel.
The guards rushed outside.
Natasha ran to the babies.
Three beats.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The rhythm steadied them.
A second bullet struck the ceiling.
Simon shouted, “Down!”
The attack lasted less than a minute.
Then silence returned.
One guard entered carrying a phone.
“It was Adrian.”
Simon took the phone.
Adrian’s voice played through the speaker.
“You can’t hide behind babies forever.”
Simon’s face became cold.
Adrian continued.
“Vincent thought fear would make you surrender. He was wrong. I know what makes you surrender.”
A photograph appeared on the phone.
It showed Natasha standing beside her younger brother, Daniel.
Daniel had been hospitalized for years with a chronic illness. Natasha had never mentioned him to Simon.
Adrian’s voice continued.
“Your waitress has family.”
Natasha’s blood froze.
Simon looked at her.
“Where is your brother?”
“Boston.”
“Who takes care of him?”
“My aunt.”
“Call her.”
Natasha’s fingers shook as she dialed.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then a message arrived.
Daniel is with us. Come alone.
Simon read it over her shoulder.
“I’m going,” Natasha said.
“No.”
“He has my brother.”
“He wants you to come.”
“Exactly.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“You don’t get to lock me up.”
“I am not locking you up.”
“You are when you say I can’t save my family.”
Simon grabbed his coat.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Adrian wants me alone.”
“Adrian doesn’t get to decide.”
They faced each other in the nursery while the twins cried between them.
Natasha lowered her voice.
“If you come, he may kill Daniel.”
“If I stay, he may kill you.”
“Then we go together.”
Simon looked down at the babies.
He understood the trap.
May you like
Adrian had chosen the one person Natasha would risk everything for.
And he expected Simon to do the same.
