Chapter 4 - The Trap Inside the Diner
Two days later, Jason called.
Morgana stared at the phone.
Roman stood across the kitchen.
“Don’t answer.”
She did.
“Morgana?”
Her father sounded terrified.
“What?”
“They’re here.”
“Who?”
“You know who.”
Roman moved closer.
Jason whispered, “Viktor wants you at Murphy’s Diner tonight.”
“No.”
“He’ll kill me.”
Morgana closed her eyes.
Jason began crying.
“I’m sorry.”
Roman held out his hand for the phone.
Morgana refused.
Jason continued.
“I made mistakes. Please. Just come talk to him.”
“You sold me once.”
“I was desperate.”
“You’re doing it again.”
“No!”
“Then tell Viktor no.”
Silence.
Morgana understood.
“You can’t.”
Jason whispered, “I’m sorry.”
The line disconnected.
Roman took the phone.
“You’re not going.”
Morgana looked at him.
“I am.”
“No.”
“You want Viktor?”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes.”
“Then he wants me.”
“I’m not using you as bait.”
“Jason already is.”
“Morgana—”
“I spent my whole life letting my father make decisions because I was scared of what happened if I said no.”
She stepped closer.
“I’m done being scared.”
At 10:13 p.m., Morgana entered Murphy’s Diner.
Hayes sat disguised near the counter.
Roman’s men occupied two booths.
Roman waited outside.
Jason stood near the jukebox.
Beside him was Viktor Vulov.
Tall.
Gray suit.
Thin smile.
“Morgana.”
She stopped ten feet away.
“Where’s my father?”
Jason wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Viktor smiled.
“Your father has been very helpful.”
“I’m sure.”
“Costa thinks he rescued you.”
“He did.”
Viktor laughed.
“Roman Costa rescues nobody.”
“Maybe you don’t know him.”
“I’ve known Roman fifteen years.”
“Then maybe you never gave him a reason to be decent.”
Viktor’s smile disappeared.
Jason whispered, “Morgana, don’t.”
She looked at him.
“Did you bring me here?”
Jason’s eyes filled with shame.
“I had no choice.”
“There’s always a choice.”
Viktor stepped forward.
“You’re coming with me.”
“No.”
He reached for her.
A coffee cup hit the saucer behind him.
Everyone turned.
Roman Costa sat in the red corner booth.
His white shirt was open at the collar.
His tattooed chest showed beneath it.
He looked almost relaxed.
“Sit down, Viktor.”
Viktor stared.
“How did you—”
“Your surveillance team is terrible.”
Two of Roman’s men appeared near the entrance.
Viktor looked at Morgana.
“You set me up.”
Morgana answered, “You underestimated a waitress.”
Roman stood.
“Conversation’s over.”
Viktor laughed.
“You think you won?”
“I know I did.”
Roman placed a phone on the counter.
A recording played.
Viktor’s own voice.
Names.
Shipping routes.
Container numbers.
Payments.
Morgana looked at Roman.
Viktor’s face changed.
“You recorded me?”
“No.”
Roman looked at Jason.
“He did.”
Everyone turned.
Jason was shaking.
Morgana stared at her father.
“You helped him?”
Jason whispered, “I finally made one good decision.”
Viktor lunged toward him.
Roman’s men moved instantly.
Within seconds, Viktor was restrained against the counter.
No gunfire.
No chaos.
Just Roman calmly picking up his coffee.
Sirens became audible outside.
Viktor looked stunned.
“You called the police?”
Roman shrugged.
“Federal task force.”
“You’re dead, Costa.”
“Get in line.”
Agents entered.
Viktor and his men were taken away.
Jason remained.
Morgana approached him.
For the first time, he looked genuinely ashamed.
“I’m sorry.”
She said nothing.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
Jason nodded.
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve worse.”
“I know.”
Morgana looked at him for several seconds.
“Get help.”
He blinked.
“Gambling. Drinking. All of it.”
“You’d still talk to me?”
“No.”
Jason’s face fell.
“Not now.”
She continued.
“Maybe someday.”
He nodded slowly.
“I’ll take someday.”
Morgana turned away.
Roman waited beside the door.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Want me to say something comforting?”
“Are you capable?”
“Probably not.”
She almost smiled.
“Then just take me home.”
Roman opened the door for her.
“Home?”
Morgana stopped.
She realized what she had said.
May you like
Roman had noticed too.
Neither corrected it.
