Chapter 4 - The Hunt for ProofFor three days, the city of Chicago descended into chaos.
Liam Foley declared himself acting head of the Gallagher family, launching ruthless strikes against rival territories to keep his soldiers distracted while he transferred millions from the family's Swiss accounts to his military backers.
Inside the Bridgeport safehouse, Declan and Norah worked as a single unit.
They set up a shadow intelligence hub using encrypted satellite links. Norah used her federal clearance codes to trace Liam’s financial transfers, while Declan reached out to his few remaining, uncorrupted lieutenants through dead-drop communications.
"He's holding a meeting tonight," Declan announced, staring at a digital map of the Chicago docks. "The old grain silo near Pier 42. He's delivering the first shipment of heavy military hardware to the New York syndicate."
"If we catch him red-handed with the shipment," Norah said, tapping the screen, "it proves to your captains that he betrayed the family, and it gives my division enough ironclad evidence to dismantle the entire operation."
"We won't have backup," Declan warned, looking at her seriously. "If we go in there, it's just you and me against thirty armed men."
Norah smiled—a genuine, sharp smile that made Declan's heart strike a heavy rhythm against his ribs. "I like those odds. You bring the muscle, I'll bring the strategy."
Before they left, Declan reached into his jacket and pulled out a small silver pendant—his father's old saint medal, worn smooth by decades of handling. He held it out to Norah.
"What's this?" she asked.
May you like
"Protection," Declan said softly, stepping behind her to clasp the silver chain around her neck. His fingers brushed against the soft skin of her collarbone, sending a sudden, intoxicating heat through both of them. "My father swore it kept him alive through three gang wars. Keep it with you."
Norah touched the cool metal resting against her chest, looking into his dark, intense eyes. "I'm returning it to you when we win," she promised.
