Chapter 3 - The Detective and the Don
By morning, Elena understood exactly how badly her two lives had collided.
Garrett wasn't merely obsessed with finding her.
He was part of the conspiracy trying to kill Lucian Moretti.
“You're telling me Garrett helped arrange the convoy attack?”
Elena asked.
Lucian stood near the kitchen window.
“According to my people, he provided Salerno with route information.”
“Why?”
“Money. Influence. Maybe both.”
Elena stared at him.
“And now Garrett knows you're here?”
“Not necessarily.”
“He asked whether I was alone.”
“He always asks that, doesn't he?”
She looked away.
Lucian understood.
“It's control.”
“Yes.”
A knock came.
Elena reached for the knife.
Lucian almost smiled.
“Your relationship with that knife is becoming concerning.”
“Your relationship with my windows is worse.”
A man's voice came through the door.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Lucian relaxed slightly.
“Matteo.”
Elena opened the door.
Three people entered.
Matteo Rinaldi was broad and serious.
Behind him came Dr. Russo, carrying a medical bag, and another man in a dark suit.
Matteo stared at the apartment.
“You hid under a bed?”
Lucian gave him a look.
“Choose your next sentence carefully.”
Matteo nodded.
“Excellent tactical decision.”
Elena covered a smile.
Dr. Russo examined Lucian.
“The nurse did good work.”
“She usually does,” Lucian said.
Elena frowned.
“You've known me eight hours.”
“Long enough.”
Dr. Russo replaced the dressings.
Matteo approached Lucian.
“We found a leak.”
“Who?”
“Anthony Bellini.”
Lucian's expression darkened.
“Bring him in.”
“He disappeared.”
“Family?”
“Gone too.”
Lucian looked toward Elena.
“He was warned.”
“By Garrett?” she asked.
“Possibly.”
Elena's phone rang.
Garrett.
Everyone went silent.
Lucian held out his hand.
Elena shook her head.
“My call.”
She answered.
“What?”
Garrett laughed.
“That isn't how you greet someone who crossed three hundred miles for you.”
“I didn't ask you to.”
“You never ask for what you need.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Lucian's eyes hardened.
Garrett continued.
“And I know who you're hiding.”
Elena's breath caught.
“Don't know what you're talking about.”
“Lucian Moretti.”
Silence.
“Tell him Victor Salerno wants his ledger.”
Lucian stepped closer.
Elena put the call on speaker.
Garrett laughed.
“Hello, Mr. Moretti.”
Lucian spoke.
“Detective.”
“I suppose introductions aren't necessary.”
“No.”
Garrett's tone changed.
“Send Elena downstairs.”
“No.”
Elena turned sharply toward Lucian.
Garrett laughed.
“I wasn't asking you.”
Lucian looked at Elena.
“Neither was I.”
She glared at him.
“This is my decision.”
Lucian nodded.
“Correct.”
Then his voice hardened.
“And going downstairs would be a stupid one.”
Garrett heard him.
“You think you can protect her?”
Lucian answered quietly.
“I think you're going to discover how seriously I take the attempt.”
Garrett's voice turned cold.
“You don't know Elena.”
“I know she disappeared because you wouldn't leave her alone.”
“She belongs with me.”
Elena stepped forward.
“I don't belong to anyone.”
Garrett went silent.
She continued.
“You want Lucian's ledger? Find it yourself.”
“You'll regret this.”
“I already regret meeting you.”
She ended the call.
Matteo stared at her.
“I like her.”
Lucian nodded.
“So do I.”
Elena pointed at him.
“Don't start.”
For the first time since climbing through her window, Lucian laughed.
Then Matteo's phone buzzed.
His smile disappeared.
“Boss.”
Lucian read the message.
A photograph appeared.
Elena leaving Harbor Mercy the previous evening.
Another showed her apartment building.
A third showed Garrett entering.
Underneath was a message.
MIDNIGHT. BRING THE LEDGER OR THE NURSE DISAPPEARS.
Lucian's expression became unreadable.
Elena saw it.
“What are you thinking?”
“That you're leaving Lakehurst.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“No.”
“Salerno knows your face.”
“So does Garrett. Running hasn't solved anything.”
“This is different.”
“It isn't.”
Lucian stared at her.
She stepped closer.
“I ran once because nobody stood beside me.”
His expression shifted.
“This time I'm staying.”
“You could get hurt.”
“So could you.”
“I chose this life.”
“I didn't choose mine either.”
Silence.
Then Lucian nodded.
“Fine.”
Matteo looked surprised.
“Fine?”
Lucian turned toward him.
“We don't run.”
“What do we do?”
Lucian looked at Elena.
“We let Garrett believe she's alone.”
Elena understood immediately.
“Bait.”
“No.”
“You were absolutely about to use me as bait.”
“I was going to call it strategic misdirection.”
“That's bait with a college degree.”
Matteo coughed to hide a laugh.
Lucian ignored him.
“We make Garrett come to us.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“And when he does?”
Lucian's voice became quiet.
May you like
“We make sure he can't hide behind his badge again.”
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