Chapter 6 - The Confrontation at the Docks
The warehouse doors were locked from the outside. By morning, the police would receive an anonymous tip regarding a massive cache of unregistered firearms and smuggled luxury goods at Pier 42, all tied directly to Victor Cross's personal operational licenses. It was a clean, legal execution—the kind that didn't leave bodies for the family council to fight over, but left the target completely ruined.
As they drove back across the Manhattan Bridge, Carmine looked at Alec through the rearview mirror.
"We have an issue, Boss," Carmine said. "Victor’s operations were tied to the dockworkers' union logistics. With him out of the picture, Apex Management is going to dissolve by noon. The cleaning crews, the drivers, the support staff—they’re all going to be technically unemployed by the time the markets open."
Alec watched the city lights blink through the storm. "We don't use subcontractors anymore, Carmine."
"Sir?"
"Bring the entire maintenance, logistics, and service division directly into Cortez Enterprises," Alec ordered. "No shell companies. No third-party management. They get corporate salaries, corporate healthcare, and direct retirement matching. Put them on the standard corporate ledger."
Carmine slowed the car down as they approached a red light. "That’s going to cost us an extra four million annually in overhead, Alec. The shareholders are going to ask why we’re giving executive-level benefits to people who mop the hallways."
"Then tell the shareholders they are welcome to come down from the executive suite and mop the hallways themselves," Alec said flatly. "And Carmine?"
May you like
"Yes, Boss?"
"Make sure Elena Hayes is listed as the director of the internal facilities division. She knows how the building runs better than Marcus Vance ever did. Let’s see how she handles a real budget."
