Chapter 5 - The Woman They Never Expected
The abandoned printing warehouse smelled like rust and wet concrete.
Dante hated the plan.
Norah knew because he had told her fourteen times.
“This is stupid.”
“Fifteen.”
“What?”
“That's the fifteenth time.”
“Get back in the car.”
“No.”
“Norah.”
“Dante.”
He stared at her.
She smiled.
“Annoying, isn't it?”
A voice echoed from inside.
“Enough!”
Marcus appeared on the upper level.
Beside him stood Elias.
And behind Elias was a terrified teenage girl.
Dante's niece.
Sophie.
Dante's entire demeanor changed.
“Sophie.”
“Uncle Dante.”
“She's fine,” Marcus said.
Dante looked at him.
“If you've touched her—”
“Still threatening people? I thought Norah was teaching you manners.”
Norah stepped forward.
Marcus's eyes went directly to the lighter in her hand.
“There it is.”
Norah raised it.
“You want this?”
“Very much.”
“Then Sophie walks out.”
Marcus laughed.
“You're negotiating with me?”
“Yes.”
“You have no idea who I am.”
Norah looked at Dante.
“People keep saying that to me.”
Dante almost smiled.
Marcus didn't.
“Bring me the lighter.”
Norah walked forward.
Dante grabbed her wrist.
Quietly, he said:
“Don't.”
“Trust me.”
His eyes searched hers.
Then he released her.
Norah climbed the stairs.
Marcus held out his hand.
She stopped six feet away.
“Sophie first.”
Marcus nodded.
Elias pushed his daughter gently toward the stairs.
She ran.
Dante caught her.
Marcus extended his hand.
“Now.”
Norah tossed him the lighter.
Marcus caught it.
Opened the bottom.
Removed the card.
And smiled.
“Finally.”
Norah smiled too.
Marcus's expression changed.
“What?”
“That's not the card.”
Dante moved instantly.
His men entered through three doors.
Marcus spun toward Elias.
“You betrayed me!”
Elias stepped away.
“No.”
Norah said, “I did.”
Marcus stared at her.
“The real card was copied this morning.”
“Impossible.”
“I'm an accounts-payable analyst.”
Marcus blinked.
Norah shrugged.
“Not glamorous, but you'd be amazed what people who stare at spreadsheets all day can do.”
Dante approached.
Marcus looked around.
His men had surrendered.
“You think financial records matter?”
Norah pulled out her phone.
“No.”
She pressed play.
Marcus's own voice filled the warehouse.
I built everything you inherited.
Then:
Thomas Bennett discovered too much.
Marcus's face drained.
Norah had recorded their confrontation at the mansion.
“You little—”
Dante stepped between them.
“Finish that sentence.”
Marcus stopped.
Sirens sounded outside.
Marcus looked stunned.
“Police?”
Dante nodded.
“Federal agents.”
“You'd cooperate with them?”
“To end this?”
Dante looked toward Sophie.
“Yes.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You've become weak.”
“No.”
Dante looked at Norah.
“I finally figured out strength doesn't require becoming you.”
Agents entered.
Marcus was handcuffed.
As they led him away, he looked back.
“This city will eat you alive without me.”
Dante answered calmly.
“Then I'll build something better.”
Marcus disappeared through the doors.
Norah released the breath she'd been holding.
Dante approached.
“You disobeyed every instruction I gave you.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“You walked directly into a hostage situation.”
“Technically, up some stairs.”
Dante stared at her.
Then he pulled her into his arms.
Norah froze.
So did he.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally Norah whispered:
“You're crushing me.”
Dante immediately released her.
“Sorry.”
She smiled.
“I didn't say stop.”
May you like
That silenced him.
For perhaps the first time in his life, Dante Caruso had absolutely nothing to say.
