Page 202 of Lorenzo

“When we came to Chicago, Marcello Greco was one of the people we had to deal with.”

“That is a polite way of putting it,” Diego says.

I ignore him.

Marcello had been established here for years before we arrived.

He had legitimate businesses, political connections, money, access, and enough influence to make him very dangerous and expensive to cross.

Lakeview Logistics was one of the foundations beneath it all.

On paper, it was freight management, warehousing, transportation contracts, distribution.

In reality, it gave Marcello much more than revenue.

Warehouses give a man places to put things. Transportation contracts give him control over what moves and when. Business relationships create favors.

Money buys access. Access creates power.

Marcello had plenty of all three.

“When we decided to establish Conti Enterprises here,” I say, “Lakeview became a problem.”

Matteo leans forward with his forearms on his knees.

“Because he would not work with us?”

“Because Marcello expected us to work under him.”

“That's not why we came here,” Mario said.

I walk toward the fireplace but stop several feet from Alessio. This is for him. He has to know why he was targeted.

“It was my responsibility to handle most of the operational side of that expansion. Lakeview had contracts we wanted. Warehouses we needed access to. Relationships that made it harder for us to move into certain areas.”

“So you went after it,” Edoardo concludes.

“Yes.”

There is no reason to soften it.

No one here is ignorant of the reasons we came to Chicago and our intentions when we did so.

I went after Lakeview methodically. It's what I'm best at.

Clients learned there were better options available.

Contracts Marcello expected to renew went elsewhere.

Suppliers changed terms.

People who once took his calls began taking ours instead.

Nothing happened in one decisive blow.

Lakeview simply became weaker month after month until Marcello could no longer hold it together.

“Conti Enterprises opened its Chicago branch,” I continue. “A few months later, Lakeview closed.”