Chapter 4 - The Uncle Who Betrayed Us
The old Moretti warehouse had been abandoned for twelve years.
My father once stored imported wine there.
Now the windows were broken and weeds grew through the parking lot.
Salvatore stood inside with Noah.
Victor Russo was beside him.
So much for uncertainty.
They were both traitors.
Noah sat on a chair.
His hands were not tied.
That told me something.
They still believed they could negotiate.
Victor smiled when I entered.
“Dante.”
“Where’s my son?”
Noah looked at me.
“I’m okay.”
Salvatore put a hand on his shoulder.
I stared at the hand.
“Remove it.”
Salvatore did.
Slowly.
Victor looked behind me.
“Where’s the girl?”
“Safe.”
His smile disappeared.
“That wasn’t the deal.”
“We don’t have a deal.”
Salvatore sighed.
“You always were arrogant.”
“You helped fake Adrian’s death.”
“He left us no choice.”
“You threatened his child.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Your brother became weak.”
“No.”
“He chose a woman over blood.”
I looked at him.
“No. He chose his daughter over criminals pretending to be family.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Salvatore said, “Careful.”
“No.”
I looked at my uncle.
“You sat beside my mother at Adrian’s funeral.”
Salvatore didn’t answer.
“You watched her cry.”
“He betrayed us.”
“He investigated Victor.”
“He investigated us.”
“Stop lying.”
Victor cut in.
“This is bigger than Adrian.”
“I know.”
“You have no idea.”
I smiled faintly.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Victor’s expression shifted.
I continued.
“Adrian kept records.”
That was a bluff.
But Victor reacted.
Barely.
Enough.
“Where?”
I smiled wider.
“You just told me they exist.”
Salvatore swore.
Victor glared at him.
That fracture was all I needed.
Noah suddenly said:
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Uncle Salvatore has my phone.”
Salvatore looked down instinctively.
Noah kicked him in the shin.
Hard.
Salvatore cursed.
Noah ran.
I moved at the same time.
My men entered from the side doors.
Marco had cut the warehouse power thirty seconds earlier.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Victor shouted.
Salvatore grabbed for Noah.
He didn’t reach him.
Marco intercepted him.
I reached my son and pulled him behind me.
“You okay?”
“I think so.”
“Good.”
Noah looked annoyed.
“He took my phone.”
“We’ll buy another.”
“I liked that one.”
Gunfire did not erupt.
That was intentional.
I had ordered my men not to turn the warehouse into a war zone with my son inside.
Instead, everything happened fast.
Victor’s men found themselves surrounded.
Most surrendered.
Salvatore backed toward a loading door.
Marco blocked him.
“Going somewhere?”
Salvatore looked at me.
“This family belonged to your father before it belonged to you.”
“And you sold it anyway.”
“I protected it.”
“You tried to trade children.”
His face hardened.
“Don’t pretend you’re better.”
“I’m not pretending.”
Victor suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
“You think this ends here?”
I walked closer.
“No.”
“You don’t even know where Adrian is.”
“I do.”
Victor’s smile vanished.
That was another bluff.
Then my phone rang.
Adrian.
I answered.
Victor stared.
I put him on speaker.
Adrian’s voice came through.
“Dante?”
“I’m here.”
“Victor with you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Victor shouted, “You should be dead.”
Adrian laughed weakly.
“You tried.”
I asked, “Where are you?”
“Machine shop. Basement office.”
“I’m coming.”
“Wait.”
His voice became serious.
“Victor has a drive. Black casing. Silver stripe.”
Everyone looked at Victor.
Marco immediately searched him.
Victor fought.
It didn’t help.
Marco pulled a small drive from inside his jacket.
Adrian continued.
“That drive contains account records, police payments, and shipping manifests.”
Victor’s face drained.
Salvatore stared at him.
“You told me those files were destroyed.”
Victor snapped, “Shut up.”
Interesting.
The traitors were turning on each other.
I looked at Salvatore.
“Seems Victor didn’t trust you either.”
Salvatore glared at him.
“You kept copies?”
Victor said nothing.
Adrian spoke again.
“Dante.”
“Yes?”
“Come get me.”
I looked at Marco.
“Take Victor and Salvatore.”
“To where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
Victor laughed.
“You mean somewhere nobody finds us.”
I met his eyes.
“No.”
That surprised him.
“I mean somewhere federal investigators can ask questions.”
Salvatore stared at me.
“You’re giving us to the government?”
“I’m giving them the evidence you thought you buried.”
“You’ve gone soft.”
I looked at Noah.
May you like
Then back at him.
“No. I got smarter.”
