Chapter 20. Malcolm sat alone in his spacious command office, deep within the bunker of the crime cabal.

This office was designed to be impervious to attack, a fortress within a fortress.

From the earliest planning stages of this bunker's construction, when he was still the Chief lieutenant for the Sclerelli family, Malcolm had

always envisioned this sanctum as an oasis, a private enclave where the elite men of crime might

feel themselves truly secure, totally shielded from attack and thus completely free. Now it was his

prison.

He was deep under the city beneath a vacant lot.

In a headquarters few knew existed.

Two steel doors and a sixty-foot tunnel separated the fortress from the outside world.

An armed camp of gangsters he could no longer trust stood between him and those doors.

How many sided with him and how many with his former partners

he could not say, but it only took one. Two men had been strong enough in his camp to leave the

confrontation at his side, Simon and Len. On his orders, Len had left to summon more support from the

outside, more former members of the

Sclerlemaub, if any could be found.

That was ten hours ago, and Malcolm had to admit he had no idea if the man was truly

coming back, if he was successful in his quest, or indeed, even if he had been allowed to leave.

Had the rules been reversed, Malcolm would never have let his enemy out of his sight.

Simon had left the office to sound out the feelings of the men.

Those once loyal to Sclorelli must surely feel a sense of obedience to Malcolm.

Even those who had formerly been members of rival factions must feel some gratitude to Malcolm for reorganizing, including them, for giving

them another chance to rule the city.

...