Chapter 5 - Roman DeLuca Goes Legit
The federal agents arrived before dawn.
Nora watched Roman open files he had spent years protecting.
Accounts.
Names.
Transactions.
Everything.
One agent stared.
“You understand what cooperating means?”
Roman nodded.
“I do.”
“You could lose everything.”
“Yes.”
“Your business. Properties. Freedom.”
Roman glanced toward Noah asleep on the couch.
“I’ve already wasted enough time protecting the wrong things.”
Nora heard him.
Later, she found Roman alone on the terrace.
“You really gave them everything?”
“Yes.”
“Even things that could hurt you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“You asked me if I changed.”
Nora said nothing.
“This is the answer.”
She folded her arms.
“You think one decision fixes everything?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I think it’s one decision.”
Roman looked toward the house.
“Then another tomorrow.”
Nora nodded slightly.
“That sounds like something Noah would say.”
Roman smiled.
“He’s smarter than me.”
“Definitely.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the years disappeared.
Then Nora looked away.
“I’m not coming back to you.”
Roman’s smile faded.
“I know.”
“You need to understand that.”
“I do.”
“I can let you know Noah.”
Roman’s expression shifted.
“That’s enough.”
“But slowly.”
“Whatever you need.”
“And if you bring danger around him—”
“I’ll walk away myself.”
Nora looked at him.
“You mean that?”
Roman’s voice was quiet.
“Yes.”
Before she could respond, a federal agent stepped outside.
“We found Salvatore.”
Roman turned.
“Where?”
“Old warehouse near the harbor.”
Nora’s stomach tightened.
The agent continued.
“We believe he’s leaving tonight.”
Roman nodded.
“Arrest him.”
“There’s a problem.”
“What?”
“He has someone.”
Roman’s face changed.
“Who?”
The agent hesitated.
“Marco.”
Roman stared.
Nora whispered, “No.”
Roman immediately headed inside.
The agent blocked him.
“You’re not going.”
Roman stopped.
“That man grew up with me.”
“We have tactical teams.”
“You don’t know my father.”
“No.”
The agent met his stare.
“But you agreed to do this legally.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
Nora stepped beside him.
“You said one decision.”
Roman looked at her.
“Then another tomorrow,” she reminded him.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then Roman stepped back.
“Bring Marco home.”
May you like
The agent nodded.
“We will.”
