Chapter 6 - The Last Performance
The next evening, Senator Calloway announced an emergency press conference.
His message was simple.
Damien Romano represented everything wrong with Chicago.
Corruption.
Violence.
Organized crime.
Calloway demanded a federal crackdown.
Nora watched from Damien's office.
"He's trying to bury you before Voss talks publicly."
Damien nodded.
"More importantly, he's trying to convince everyone Voss is lying."
Marcus entered.
"We have the ledgers. We have Voss. But Calloway never signed anything."
Nora asked, "What does he want?"
Damien looked at the television.
"Control."
"No. Tonight."
Damien looked at her.
"What does he want tonight?"
Marcus answered.
"The notebook."
Nora nodded.
"So give it to him."
Both men stared at her.
Damien said, "Absolutely not."
"Not the real one."
Marcus understood first.
"A trap."
Nora pointed toward the ballroom.
"The same room where this started."
Damien slowly smiled.
"You're becoming concerningly good at this."
"I prefer piano."
"Keep it that way."
That night, the Blackstone hosted another charity gala.
Calloway attended despite the scandal.
He needed the public appearance.
Nora sat at the grand piano.
Damien remained out of sight.
At 9:15, a waiter delivered Calloway a message.
I have Victor's notebook. Private lounge. Come alone. — N.B.
Five minutes later, Calloway entered.
Nora followed.
A folder sat on the piano.
Calloway looked at her.
"You've created quite a mess, Miss Bennett."
"My sister was kidnapped."
"An unfortunate misunderstanding."
"Is that what we're calling kidnapping now?"
His smile disappeared.
"Give me the notebook."
"Tell me why."
"You aren't in a position to ask questions."
Nora rested her fingers on the keys.
"You know, Damien said something similar the first night."
"Damien Romano is finished."
"Then why are you afraid of his notebook?"
Calloway stepped closer.
"Your sister survived once."
Nora stopped playing.
There it was.
The threat.
She kept her voice steady.
"Was Luca supposed to kill her?"
Calloway smiled.
"Luca was supposed to clean up a mistake."
"And Damien?"
"Eventually."
"How?"
"Prison."
Calloway's confidence grew.
"Romano built an empire through fear. All we did was redirect the paperwork."
"We?"
Calloway realized too late.
Nora looked toward the balcony.
Damien stepped from behind the curtain.
Federal agents appeared behind him.
Calloway's face collapsed.
Nora pointed toward the piano.
A microphone had been hidden beneath the music rack.
Damien said quietly, "You should never threaten a musician beside a microphone."
Calloway ran.
He made it three steps.
Agents seized him.
As they handcuffed the senator, he looked at Damien.
"You think this changes what you are?"
Damien approached.
"No."
Calloway smiled bitterly.
"Then what exactly did you win?"
Damien looked across the ballroom.
"Nora's sister gets to go home."
He glanced toward Nora.
"Tonight, that's enough."
Calloway was taken away.
Reporters flooded the lobby within minutes.
Nora finally found Claire waiting with Marcus downstairs.
The sisters embraced.
Claire laughed through tears.
"Can we please have one normal week?"
"I'll schedule it."
"No mafia."
"Agreed."
"No kidnappings."
"Absolutely."
"No federal conspiracies."
Nora considered it.
"That one might be harder."
Claire punched her shoulder.
Across the lobby, Damien watched them.
Marcus approached him.
"What happens tomorrow?"
Damien looked toward the piano.
"Tomorrow?"
For the first time in decades, he didn't have an answer.
May you like
And strangely—
that didn't frighten him.
