Chapter 6 - The Last Betrayal
Three weeks later, Marcus Vale was in federal custody.
The records from the card had exposed years of corruption, shell companies and bribery.
Several officials resigned.
Others were arrested.
But one question remained.
Thomas Bennett.
Norah's father.
Dante arrived at her apartment carrying a folder.
Norah opened the door.
“You know normal people text first.”
“I texted.”
She checked her phone.
One message.
Coming upstairs.
She looked at him.
“That isn't asking.”
“I’m learning.”
“Slowly.”
Dante entered.
His eyes moved around the tiny apartment.
The radiator rattled.
Then stopped.
“You still have no heat.”
“It has personality.”
“It has hypothermia.”
He placed the folder on her kitchen counter.
“What is it?”
“Your father.”
Norah stopped joking.
She opened it.
Police photographs.
Old financial documents.
A witness statement.
She read silently.
Then looked up.
“Marcus ordered it.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled, but she didn't collapse.
She simply sat.
“Twelve years.”
Dante remained across the room.
Norah noticed.
“You can come closer.”
He did.
She looked at the papers again.
“My mother spent years blaming Dad. She thought he was driving too fast.”
“He wasn't.”
“No.”
Dante sat beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
Norah nodded.
“Thank you for finding it.”
“You deserved the truth.”
“So did you.”
Dante looked at her.
Norah closed the folder.
“What happens to Caruso?”
“The organization?”
“Yes.”
“I'm dismantling the illegal operations.”
“All of them?”
“All.”
“That'll make enemies.”
“I already have enemies.”
“You have a gift.”
“For what?”
“Understatement.”
He smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Elias.
Dante answered.
His expression immediately hardened.
“When?”
Norah watched him stand.
“Where is she?”
Pause.
“I'm coming.”
He disconnected.
“Sophie?”
Dante nodded.
“She disappeared from school.”
Norah stood.
“Marcus?”
“He's in custody.”
“Then someone is finishing what he started.”
Dante's phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared.
Sophie sitting in a car.
Alive.
Terrified.
Then a message.
THE ORIGINAL CARD. MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.
Norah read it.
“They don't know the card isn't unique.”
“No.”
“So give them a copy.”
“They'll kill Sophie once they realize.”
Norah studied the photograph.
“Wait.”
“What?”
She zoomed in.
Behind Sophie was a window.
Outside it, a red neon reflection.
Norah stared.
“I know that sign.”
Dante leaned closer.
“So do I.”
They looked at each other.
The Grind and Pour.
Ten minutes later, Dante's men surrounded the block.
But Norah stopped him before he entered.
“If you send twenty men inside, they panic.”
“So?”
“So you go in like you did the first day.”
Dante understood.
“Alone.”
“Not alone.”
“No.”
Norah sighed.
“We're doing this again?”
“You're staying here.”
“Fine.”
Dante narrowed his eyes.
“That was too easy.”
“I'm growing.”
“You're lying.”
“Go save your niece.”
He hesitated.
Then entered.
Norah waited exactly thirty seconds.
And followed through the back door.
Inside, Sophie sat near the kitchen.
One man guarded her.
Dante stood in the center of the café facing another man.
Cole Mercer.
The supposed defector.
Dante stared at him.
“You.”
Cole smiled.
“Marcus underestimated you.”
“You underestimated Norah.”
Cole's smile vanished.
“Where is she?”
Norah stepped from the hallway.
“Unfortunately for you?”
Cole turned.
“Right here.”
Dante closed his eyes.
“Norah.”
“Later.”
The distraction was enough.
Sophie ran.
Dante's men entered.
Within seconds, it was over.
No gunfire.
No dramatic bloodshed.
Just several extremely surprised criminals realizing every exit was blocked.
Outside, Sophie hugged her father.
Norah stood beside Dante.
He looked furious.
“You followed me.”
“Yes.”
“You could've been killed.”
“Yes.”
“Do you ever listen?”
“Sometimes.”
“When?”
Norah thought.
“I listened when you said your name.”
Dante stared at her.
Then laughed despite himself.
Norah smiled.
“See? Progress.”
His laughter faded.
He looked at her differently.
“Have dinner with me.”
Norah blinked.
“Is that an order?”
“No.”
“A threat?”
“No.”
“Business?”
“No.”
She waited.
Dante seemed almost uncomfortable.
Finally:
“A date.”
Norah smiled.
“There you go.”
May you like
“What?”
“You finally learned how to ask.”
