Chapter 2 - The Name Everyone Feared
Getting an unconscious six-foot-three man out of an alley when you cannot see is difficult.
Doing it while men are searching for him is worse.
I found Marco's phone inside his coat.
“Voice assistant.”
Nothing.
“Wonderful.”
The screen was locked.
Then Marco groaned.
“Marco.”
His eyes—or at least his face—turned toward me.
“Phone.”
“I have it.”
“Call Luca.”
“Who’s Luca?”
“Contact... emergency.”
I managed to activate the emergency contacts.
“Call Luca.”
The phone connected.
A man answered immediately.
“Boss?”
Boss?
I slowly turned toward Marco.
Marco whispered, “Blue alley. Ashland. Track the phone.”
“Who is this?” Luca demanded.
“Claire.”
Silence.
“Who?”
“The woman currently keeping your boss from becoming a corpse.”
Marco made a faint sound.
Was he laughing?
“Put him on.”
“He’s busy bleeding.”
The voice changed.
“Miss, listen carefully. Stay exactly where you are.”
“Fantastic advice considering I’m blind and lost.”
Another silence.
Then:
“We’re two minutes away.”
The call ended.
“Boss?” I asked.
Marco said nothing.
“Marco?”
“My name isn’t Marco.”
I stared toward his voice.
“You waited until now to mention that?”
“Marco was the name they were calling.”
“So what’s your name?”
“Adrian.”
“Adrian what?”
Engines roared into the street.
Doors opened.
Multiple men ran toward us.
I tightened my grip on my cane.
Adrian touched my wrist.
“They’re mine.”
A man reached us.
“Mr. Moretti.”
My stomach dropped.
Moretti.
Even I knew that name.
Adrian Moretti.
Newspapers called him a businessman.
Everyone else called him something very different.
The Moretti organization controlled clubs, construction companies, restaurants, and half the rumors whispered through Chicago courtrooms.
I released his arm.
“You’re Adrian Moretti?”
“Yes.”
“You could have mentioned that.”
“You might have left.”
“I’m considering it now.”
A man approached.
“Boss, we need to move.”
“Luca.”
“Yes?”
“Claire comes with us.”
“No.”
Everyone went silent.
I pointed my cane toward Adrian.
“I’m going home.”
“The men who attacked me saw you.”
“They didn’t see my face.”
“They saw enough.”
“That sounds like your problem.”
“It became yours the moment you saved me.”
I stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide that.”
Adrian was quiet.
Then he said something unexpected.
“You’re right.”
I hesitated.
“I am?”
“Yes.”
His breathing was becoming weaker.
“But if you go home tonight, they may follow you. Come with me until I know you're safe.”
“That sounds suspiciously reasonable.”
“I can be reasonable.”
Luca snorted.
Adrian said, “Luca.”
“Sorry, boss.”
Despite myself, I smiled.
“Fine. One night.”
Adrian's men helped us into an SUV.
Twenty minutes later, I entered a house so quiet I knew immediately it was enormous.
My cane tapped marble.
The echo lasted forever.
“Where are we?”
“My home.”
“Your home sounds ridiculous.”
“It is.”
A doctor arrived.
While he worked on Adrian, I sat in a nearby room drinking coffee.
Luca remained beside me.
“You really didn’t know who he was?”
“No.”
“And you still helped him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Does everyone around him ask stupid questions?”
Luca laughed.
“I like you.”
“I haven’t decided whether I like any of you.”
A door opened.
The doctor emerged.
“He’ll live.”
My shoulders relaxed.
Luca noticed.
“You were worried.”
“I don’t like people dying on me.”
“Boss wants to see you.”
Adrian was lying in bed when I entered.
His voice sounded stronger.
“You stayed.”
“You kidnapped me politely.”
“I asked.”
“Your armed-looking friends did the asking.”
He paused.
“Fair.”
I folded my cane.
“Tell me what happened.”
Adrian became serious.
“Someone inside my organization betrayed me.”
“And the men outside?”
“They were supposed to make sure I never reached morning.”
“But you did.”
“Because of you.”
I shook my head.
“I happened to be standing in the wrong alley.”
“No, Claire.”
His voice softened.
“You stood between me and men you couldn't see.”
“I heard them.”
“That isn't better.”
I turned toward the door.
“I want to go home tomorrow.”
“You will.”
“And then we're finished.”
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Finally:
“If that's what you want.”
It should have ended there.
Instead, at 3:17 the next morning, Luca woke me.
“Claire.”
Something in his voice made me sit up.
“What?”
“Your apartment was broken into twenty minutes ago.”
My blood turned cold.
“My sister?”
“She wasn't there.”
I grabbed my cane.
“Take me home.”
“We can't.”
“Luca—”
Adrian's voice came from the doorway.
“No.”
I turned toward him.
“You should be in bed.”
“And you should be angry.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
His footsteps approached.
“Because whoever betrayed me just made the biggest mistake of his life.”
“What mistake?”
Adrian stopped in front of me.
May you like
“He threatened you.”
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