Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt-Chapter 91 - 65: Jackals

The three men sat as instructed, and they could feel that something was off.

The Mayor was usually a garrulous man, full of bureaucratic arrogance.

But today, the Mayor was as quiet as a stone.

"Washington has abandoned us."

The color drained from the three men’s faces at Carter Wright’s opening words.

"That old fox Morganfield is content to just watch the show."

Carter Wright took a box of cigars from a drawer and tossed it on the table. He didn’t light one, instead fiddling with the sharp cigar cutter in his hand.

"Gentlemen, the situation is clear. We have no way out."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three men before him.

Reaching into a drawer, he took out an unmarked black notebook and tossed it gently onto his desk.

THUD.

The sound was soft, but in the quiet room, it rang out like a gunshot.

Director Miller’s eyelid twitched violently, his gaze fixed on the notebook as he swallowed hard.

Nearby, Finance Director O’Malley’s face instantly turned ashen. Scott Reed sat stiffly in his chair, a cold sweat running down his temples.

Carter Wright didn’t need to say a word.

They instantly understood the implication of the black notebook: if this ship went down, the captain had no intention of drowning alone.

The air in the room seemed to freeze as the three men stared at one another.

They saw the same terror in each other’s eyes, and the same realization.

They had thought Carter Wright was a toothless old lion, one they could abandon at a moment’s notice.

But now they realized the old lion’s claws were still sharp—and digging right into their throats.

What was more terrifying was that the Mayor they privately mocked was now showing a burn-the-bridges ruthlessness that gave them a strange notion—maybe this madman could actually win.

Follow him, and they might die. Betray him, and they would die now.

Carter Wright keenly perceived the fear in their eyes.

Fear was a double-edged sword. Push too hard, and even a cornered dog will bite. Desperate men will drag you down with them.

He needed a pack of hunting dogs that would bite on command, not a pack of rabid mutts always looking to turn on their master.

Carter Wright leaned back, his figure receding into the shadows. The tense lines on his face softened slightly.

"However, gentlemen."

His voice grew deep and raspy.

"I’m not the kind of man who likes to drag his brothers down with him."

"We’ve worked together for eight years. I know the positions you’re in, and I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done for me."

He reached out, took the black notebook back without opening it, and tossed it back into the drawer.

The drawer shut with a CLANG.

At the sound, the shoulders of the three men across from him relaxed in unison, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

"I’m not asking you to work miracles. I’m just asking you to fight like your lives depend on it."

Carter Wright’s gaze roamed over the three men’s faces as he delivered his final promise.

"Use every resource at your disposal to fight this war. Forget the rules, forget the consequences. Just win."

"If you give it your all and we still end up losing..."

He paused, a flicker of grim resolve in his eyes.

"I’ll be the only one who gets burned."

"I’ll make sure you walk away clean."

"But on one condition..."

Carter Wright leaned forward, his eyes glinting menacingly.

"I want to see that kid’s blood on your teeth."

"Mayor, what do you want us to do?" Director Miller asked in a heavy voice, his hand instinctively going to his hip, though he wasn’t armed.

Carter Wright set the cigar cutter on the desk, where it made a sharp metallic CLICK.

"From this day forward, forget Washington’s rules. Forget what the media says. Forget so-called ’legal process.’"

"The four of us have only one goal."

"Destroy Leo Wallace, at any cost."

Carter Wright stood, rounded his desk, and stopped in front of the three men.

He swept his gaze over each of the three men, his eyes sharp and appraising.

"I know what you’re thinking," Carter Wright said. "You’re thinking you’ll send police cars to the South District construction site first thing tomorrow, sirens blaring, and scare those workers until they piss their pants. You want to freeze the Revival Committee’s accounts immediately so Leo Wallace can’t make payroll next week. You want to smear all that dirt you’ve already cooked up across every newspaper in Pittsburgh."

Director Miller cracked a grin. To him, these tactics were just common sense. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Isn’t that how we should play it? That kid has been walking all over us for too long. We need to show him who’s really in charge around here."

"Idiot."

Carter Wright coldly spat out the word.

Miller’s smile froze on his face.

"This is why I’m the one sitting in this chair, and you’re just a police director."

Carter Wright stepped toward Miller, his finger jabbing so close it nearly touched the Director’s nose.

"Do you think sending a few patrol cars to harass his site is going to solve the problem? Do you think freezing his funds for a few days will make him bend the knee?"

"Leo Wallace has already proven he’s not some common street punk."

Cold sweat broke out on Miller’s forehead, and he instinctively flinched.

"So... so what do we do? Are we just supposed to watch him run wild like this?" Scott asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Carter Wright took a deep breath.

"No."