Chapter 5 - Elena’s Secret
Callum stared at the photograph.
“No.”
Victor crossed his arms.
“I thought the same thing.”
Sadie moved closer.
“When was this taken?”
“Three weeks ago,” Victor said.
Callum looked ready to tear the phone apart.
“My sister is working with Anthony?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why is she smiling?”
Sadie studied the image.
“Because she knows she’s being photographed.”
Both men looked at her.
Sadie zoomed in.
“Elena isn’t looking at Anthony.”
She pointed.
“She’s looking directly at the security camera.”
Callum frowned.
“So?”
“She wanted someone to see her.”
Victor leaned closer.
Sadie continued.
“Look at her hand.”
Elena held three fingers against her coat.
Callum’s expression changed.
Victor whispered, “The old family distress signal.”
Callum grabbed his phone.
Sadie stopped him.
“Callum.”
“What?”
“If Elena has been pretending to cooperate for three weeks, calling her could expose her.”
He hated that she was right.
Victor spoke.
“I know where Anthony keeps private inventory.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned auction house near the river.”
Callum looked at Marco.
“Get the cars.”
Sadie stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
“For what?”
“To identify the paintings.”
“I don’t care about paintings right now.”
“You should.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“The Bellini isn’t decoration. It’s inventory.”
Victor understood.
“Anthony’s selling tonight.”
Sadie nodded.
“If buyers are there, Elena may be using the auction as a way to expose him.”
Callum stared at her.
“You’re staying here.”
Sadie folded her arms.
“Then explain how your men will know which paintings are genuine.”
Silence.
Victor smiled faintly.
“I like her.”
Callum looked at him.
“Stop.”
Forty minutes later, they reached the old auction house.
Sadie remained in the car with Marco.
That was the compromise.
Callum and Victor entered through the front.
Inside, Anthony Russo waited beneath dusty chandeliers.
Elena stood beside him.
Callum stopped.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“Callum.”
Anthony smiled.
“My nephew finally arrives.”
Callum ignored him.
“Elena, come here.”
She didn’t move.
Anthony laughed.
“She’s exactly where she wants to be.”
Callum’s eyes stayed on his sister.
“Is that true?”
Elena hesitated.
Then said, “I’m sorry.”
Anthony smiled wider.
Callum looked devastated for exactly one second.
Then Elena added:
“I needed him to believe me.”
Her hand moved.
A phone slid from her sleeve across the floor.
Victor caught it.
Anthony’s smile vanished.
Elena stepped away from him.
“Every buyer. Every account. Every shipment.”
Callum stared at his sister.
“You recorded everything?”
“For three weeks.”
Anthony backed toward the door.
It opened.
Marco stood there.
Sadie beside him.
Anthony looked around.
“You think this changes anything?”
Callum approached his uncle.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“You’re finished.”
Anthony laughed.
“You don’t have the courage your father had.”
Callum stopped inches from him.
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“I learned from his mistakes.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Anthony’s face changed.
Callum looked at Elena.
She smiled.
“I called federal investigators twenty minutes ago.”
Victor stared.
“You called the government?”
Elena shrugged.
“I wanted witnesses Callum couldn’t intimidate.”
Sadie covered a laugh.
Callum looked deeply offended.
“I can be reasonable.”
Everyone stared at him.
Sadie said, “That may be the least convincing thing you’ve said all night.”
May you like
For the first time since she entered the Continental bleeding and terrified, Callum laughed.
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