Chapter 4 - Someone Inside His Empire Wanted Him Dead
The doors closed behind Marcus.
Norah turned.
“Why did you choose my table?”
Dante remained silent.
“Dante.”
“I knew who you were.”
Her expression changed.
“Before the café?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Your father.”
Norah stopped breathing for a second.
“My father has been dead twelve years.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Dante walked toward the window.
“Thomas Bennett was an accountant.”
“He worked for a shipping company.”
“He worked for my father.”
Norah stared at him.
“No.”
“He discovered money disappearing from several companies.”
“Marcus?”
“Yes.”
Norah shook her head.
“My father died in a car accident.”
Dante looked at her.
“That's what you were told.”
The room became very quiet.
“You're saying Marcus killed him?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not good enough.”
“No. It isn't.”
Norah's voice rose.
“You sat at my table because of my father?”
“I was injured. Being followed. I recognized your face.”
“How?”
“I'd seen his photograph.”
“You could have gone anywhere.”
“Yes.”
“But you chose me.”
“Yes.”
“And put that card in my bag.”
Dante didn't defend himself.
Norah laughed bitterly.
“So none of it was random.”
“Your coffee was.”
She glared at him.
“Not the time.”
“No.”
“Did you know putting that card in my bag would endanger me?”
“I thought nobody saw.”
“But they did.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I fix it.”
“You don't get to fix my life like one of your businesses.”
Dante moved closer.
“No. But I can tell you the truth.”
“Start.”
He did.
Years earlier, Thomas Bennett had uncovered an internal theft operation.
He had tried to bring the records to Dante's father.
Before he could, he died.
The records disappeared.
Marcus gained influence.
Dante had been suspicious for years.
The card in the lighter contained newer records showing the same network still existed.
Norah sat slowly.
“My dad knew.”
“Yes.”
“He tried to expose Marcus.”
“I believe so.”
She looked toward the basement door.
“Then we need proof.”
Dante studied her.
“We?”
“You dragged my dead father into this.”
“Norah—”
“No.”
She stood.
“You wanted a civilian?”
She held up the lighter.
“You got one.”
Dante stared at her for several seconds.
Then:
“You're incredibly difficult.”
“So I've been told.”
A guard entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Marcus is gone.”
Dante's face became still.
“What did you say?”
“The basement room is empty.”
“That is impossible.”
“Someone opened the service entrance.”
Dante looked around.
“Who had access?”
The guard hesitated.
“Six people.”
“Names.”
The sixth name stopped him.
“Elias.”
Norah frowned.
“Who?”
Dante's expression darkened.
“My younger brother.”
The mansion alarm suddenly sounded.
A voice came through Dante's phone.
“Boss, south gate breached.”
Dante grabbed Norah's arm.
“We're leaving.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Marcus doesn't know.”
“And where exactly is that?”
Dante looked at her.
“The last place he'd expect me to go.”
Twenty minutes later, Norah stared through the windshield.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
They were parked across from the Grind and Pour.
“You own half the city and your safe house is a terrible coffee shop?”
Dante opened his door.
“Marcus thinks I hate the coffee.”
“You do hate the coffee.”
“Exactly.”
Inside, Chloe stared at them.
“Again?”
Norah sighed.
“Long story.”
Dante sat in their original booth.
Norah sat opposite him.
For the first time, no guards surrounded them.
No mansion.
No expensive conference table.
Just burnt coffee.
Rain-streaked windows.
And two exhausted people.
Norah looked at him.
“What happens if your brother betrayed you?”
Dante stared into his coffee.
“I find out why.”
“And if Marcus forced him?”
“I bring him home.”
“And if he didn't?”
Dante looked up.
“Then I still bring him home.”
Norah was surprised.
“You won't kill him?”
“He's my brother.”
“You're not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
Norah looked at his tattoos, bruised face, expensive watch and scarred hands.
“Basically exactly this.”
Dante laughed.
Actually laughed.
Then his phone vibrated.
One message.
From Elias.
Dante read it.
His expression vanished.
Norah leaned forward.
“What?”
He turned the screen toward her.
MARCUS HAS MY DAUGHTER.
Below it:
DON'T TRUST ANYONE.
And then a location.
Norah looked at Dante.
“It's a trap.”
“Yes.”
“You're still going.”
Dante stood.
“Yes.”
Norah closed her laptop.
“So am I.”
“No.”
“Dante.”
“Absolutely not.”
Norah held up the steel lighter.
“Then you'd better take this.”
Dante looked at it.
She smiled.
“Because Marcus still thinks I have what he wants.”
Dante understood immediately.
“No.”
“For a terrifying crime boss, you say that word a lot.”
“This isn't funny.”
“I know.”
May you like
Norah stood.
“But I also know exactly how we're going to make Marcus talk.”
