Chapter 8 - The Collapse of the DynastyThe raid on Halston & Reed took place at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
Four black SUVs carrying federal agents parked directly in front of the LaSalle Street entrance. Within minutes, the glass lobby was filled with agents in blue windbreakers, their arms loaded with cardboard boxes as they moved toward the elevators.
Gregory Tanner was sitting in a partner meeting when the door was kicked open.
By noon, the news was crawling across the bottom of every local television screen in Chicago.
“Prominent Cook County Judge Indicted on Federal Bribery Charges.” “Halston & Reed Offices Searched in Racketeering Probe.” “Junior Partner Gregory Tanner Arrested at Scene.”
Khloe watched the coverage from the sofa in Dante’s office, a cup of hot tea in her hands. Dante sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, his fingers playing with the collar of her sweater. He didn't look at the screen; he looked only at her, monitoring her breathing, ensuring she felt safe in the middle of the storm.
Her phone buzzed.
It was an unknown number, but she recognized the pattern of the digits. It was Greg’s cell phone.
She looked at Dante, who nodded once. She swiped the screen and put the phone to her ear.
“Khloe!” Greg’s voice was frantic, breathless, carrying the distinct background noise of a busy federal holding facility. “Khloe, you have to talk to him! You have to tell Salvatrici to call them off! The FBI… they’re freezing everything, Khloe. My dad’s chest is hurting. They’re going to disbar me!”
“Hello, Greg,” Khloe said, her voice steady, cool, and entirely devoid of the fear he had spent years cultivating in her.
“Khloe, please!” he sobbed, his voice cracking completely. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry about the Wellington. I’m sorry about Lexi. I was just angry because you looked so… you looked so good, and you didn't need me anymore. I couldn't handle it. Please, tell your… tell Salvatrici to drop the charges. We can work something out. I’ll clear your name with the board. I’ll pay back the firm.”
“You don't have any money to pay them back, Greg,” Khloe said, looking out at the calm blue water of the lake. “Because your father’s accounts in Belize were frozen two hours ago. And as for my name… it’s already clear. The board at Halston & Reed called me thirty minutes ago to offer me Harold Green’s position as managing partner.”
“Khloe…”
“You told me once that I didn't know how to take up space, Greg,” she said, her voice dropping into a quiet, lethal register that sounded exactly like Dante’s. “But it turns out, I just needed a bigger room. Enjoy your trial.”
She hung up the phone before he could answer. She deleted his number from her history, then tossed the phone onto the coffee table.
May you like
She turned to Dante, her arms wrapping around his neck, her face burying into the warm curve of his throat. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“I didn't do anything, Khloe,” Dante said, his hand sliding down to rest on her hip, his fingers pressing into the soft velvet of her skirt. “You’re the one who made the call. I’m just the man who bought the restaurant.”
