The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 122: Forty-Seven

Morning comes too soon.

I’m at the consulting firm with Bella, and we were both going through client files and making sure everyone we’ve helped is accounted for.

Forty-seven people. These were forty-seven lives we helped rebuild.

Former enforcers who were now running legitimate businesses. Ex-money launderers working regular jobs. People who escaped the Commission and started over.

This was our life’s work, through sweat and hard work.

My phone rings, and it’s Elliot.

"Hey. Everything okay?"

"Katherine, you need to see this." His voice is tight and controlled. That means he’s panicking internally. "Someone leaked your client list."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"Every person you’ve helped escape criminal life. Their identities are online in dark web forums with their current locations."

"How many?"

"All of them. Forty-seven people, all exposed and vulnerable."

No! No, no, no.

"Diane," I whisper.

"Has to be. And Katherine... there’s more."

"More?"

"She didn’t just leak the list; she put bounties on them. Fifty thousand dollars each for anyone who kills a ’Blaire-Marvin success story.’"

I couldn’t breathe.

She’s weaponizing our good work. Making our clients targets to hurt us.

Bella sees my face. "What’s wrong?"

"The client list. Diane leaked it with bounties."

"How many?"

"All of them."

Bella’s face goes white. "We need to protect them. Get them to safe houses-"

My phone buzzes, and it’s a text from an unknown number.

Told you I’d destroy everything you love. Your consulting firm? Your life’s work? Consider it done. Every person you ’saved’ is now dead because of you. -Diane

She inserted another photo via text.

Jim Travis. A former enforcer we helped, the one running the youth boxing gym.

Dead from a bullet through the head.

"No," I whisper.

Another text with another photo.

Kim Wedge. A former money launderer, but now working as an accountant.

Dead.

"She’s already started killing them," I say, my voice hollow.

Bella’s already on her phone. "Luca, we need protection details. Now! For forty-five people. I’m sending you the list."

But it’s too late.

My phone kept buzzing with more photos and more deaths.

People, I promised safety. People who trusted me.

Dead because I tried to help them.

I’m going to be sick.

Tony burst through the door and saw my face.

"Katherine? What happened?"

I show him the phone. The photos show the death count rising.

Six dead already. Seven. Eight.

"Diane leaked the client list," Bella explains. "Put bounties on them, and professional killers are working through the list."

"How fast can we protect the others?" Tony demands.

"We’re trying, but they’re spread across five states. We can’t reach them all in time."

Tony’s face shows rage I rarely see. Pure, cold fury.

"Then we don’t protect them." His voice is ice. "We go after Diane and end this at the source."

"We don’t know where she is-"

"Then we find her. Today. Now! I don’t care what it takes."

Another text from Diane:

Nine dead, thirty-eight to go. Unless you want to trade your life for theirs? Come alone to the address below, or keep watching them die. Your choice. -Diane

It was an address in Brooklyn in an abandoned warehouse district.

"It’s a trap," Bella says immediately.

"Of course it’s a trap," I say. "But she’s killing innocent people. People I promised to protect."

"Katherine, you can’t-" Tony starts.

"Can’t what? Let them die? I already am because of me! Because I tried to help them!"

I’m crying now from guilt, rage, and helplessness pouring out. This was someone trying to destroy our sweat and hard work, claiming innocent lives... people who have vowed to do good things, to turn their lives around for a change.

Tony pulls me into his arms. "This isn’t your fault, Diane’s doing this. Not you."

"But they’re dying because they trusted me!" I retorted, feeling helpless to do anything right now.

"And they’ll keep dying unless we stop her." He pulled back and looked at me. "So we stop her together. Not by walking into her trap but by being smarter and better at her game."

"How?" I’m still wondering how she was able to get all their locations and sensitive information.

"We use her trap against her. She wants you? She gets both of us. With backup and a plan. We end this today. Alright?"

Bella’s already coordinating. "I’ll tell Will, Rose, and Ted to get everyone mobilized."

"Timothy and the FBI?" I ask.

"I’ll call Chen," Tony says. "Full tactical support. We’re not playing by Diane’s rules anymore."

I get more texts revealing more photos. The death count was at twelve now.

Twelve people dead because I tried to save them. I was already reeling from guilt and fear now.

"Katherine." Tony forces me to look at him. "We’re going to stop her, and we’re going to save the others. I promise."

I want to believe him, I’m still struggling to.

But Diane keeps winning, and I’m terrified we’re already too late. This is already a stain on my reputation and our firm, as the confidentiality of our clients have been compromised, and we couldn’t protect them.

My phone buzzes again, and I don’t want to look. I can’t bear another death right now.

But I do, I check my phone again, and it’s a message from her.

"Fourteen dead. Getting bored. Maybe I’ll target your brother next. Columbia University. So many places to hide. So many opportunities. -Diane"

Photo attached.

Elliot. Walking across campus. Headphones on. Completely unaware.

Red crosshairs superimposed on his back.

"She’s going after Elliot," I whisper.

Tony’s already dialing. "Luca, please get to Columbia. Now. And find Elliot Blaire. He needs to be protected. You could get your security men watching at a distance." He looks at me. "She might be using Elliot to threaten or distract us, not necessarily been there, but we’re not taking any chances."

I didn’t respond; I only stared at the photo.

Diane doesn’t just want me dead.

She wants me destroyed.

And she knows exactly how to do it.