Chapter 5 - The Choice Declan Never Gave Anyone
Patrick Rossi was waiting inside an abandoned warehouse.
He looked twenty years older than his photograph.
Declan entered first.
Iris stayed behind Marco.
Patrick laughed bitterly.
“You brought the veterinarian.”
“I came voluntarily,” Iris said.
Patrick looked surprised.
Declan didn't.
That mattered too.
“Where's your son?” Declan asked.
“Costa has him.”
“Why didn't you come to me?”
“Because Costa said he'd kill Daniel if I did.”
“So you gave him Iris?”
Patrick looked at her.
Shame crossed his face.
“I gave him an address.”
“You knew what would happen.”
“Yes.”
Declan stepped forward.
Marco tensed.
Iris said one word.
“Declan.”
He stopped.
Patrick stared at her.
“You can control him?”
“No.”
Declan glanced at her.
Iris continued.
“That's the point.”
Patrick's phone buzzed.
A message.
His face drained.
“What?”
He showed Declan.
MIDNIGHT. PIER 19. BRING THE HAYES FILES OR DANIEL DIES.
Declan looked at Iris.
“No.”
She hadn't even spoken.
“That's getting annoying.”
“You're not going.”
“I don't need to.”
She held up her father's flash drive.
“We make copies.”
Marco understood immediately.
“Costa doesn't know what the complete files contain.”
Iris nodded.
“We give him enough real material to believe it. Keep the rest somewhere safe.”
Declan shook his head.
“He'll want you.”
“Then he gets me.”
“No.”
“Declan—”
“No.”
Iris walked closer.
“Listen carefully. I'm not asking permission.”
His expression hardened.
“And I'm not watching you walk into Costa's hands.”
“Then come with me.”
Silence.
She continued.
“That's the difference. Don't lock me away. Stand beside me.”
Something shifted in Declan's face.
All his life, protection had meant control.
Hide the weakness.
Remove the choice.
Make the decision.
Iris demanded something harder.
Trust the person he wanted to protect.
Finally he said, “If you tell me you want out at any point, we leave.”
“Agreed.”
“No arguments.”
“Don't push your luck.”
At 11:58 p.m., they reached Pier 19.
Costa's men waited inside the warehouse.
Anthony Costa stood beside Patrick's son, Daniel.
Daniel's hands were bound.
Costa smiled when Iris entered.
“Robert Hayes's daughter.”
Iris stared at him.
“You killed my father.”
“He made a business mistake.”
“He believed you were human.”
Costa smiled.
“That was his mistake.”
Declan's expression turned murderous.
Costa noticed.
“Oh. Interesting.”
His gaze moved between them.
“Declan Rossi cares about someone.”
Iris answered before Declan could.
“He doesn't own me.”
Costa laughed.
“Men like us always own something.”
Declan's voice was calm.
“That's where you're wrong.”
Costa's smile faded.
Iris held up the drive.
“Daniel first.”
“No.”
“Then no files.”
Costa stepped closer.
“You think you have leverage?”
“I think you've spent twelve years hiding what's on this drive.”
She tossed a folder onto the concrete.
Bank records scattered.
Costa looked down.
His confidence cracked.
Iris saw it.
“Copies exist,” she said. “If I don't leave this building, they go to federal investigators, reporters, and every partner you've stolen from.”
Costa stared at her.
“You're bluffing.”
Iris smiled.
“I'm a veterinarian. Animals bluff all the time. You learn to recognize fear.”
She stepped closer.
“You're terrified.”
Costa's hand moved.
Declan moved faster.
But Iris shouted, “Wait!”
Everyone froze.
Police sirens sounded in the distance.
Costa's face changed.
Marco smiled from the shadows.
“The files were sent twenty minutes ago.”
Iris looked at Declan.
“You knew?”
Declan shook his head.
“Marco?”
Marco shrugged.
“She told me to.”
Declan looked almost offended.
“You followed her instructions over mine?”
“She had the better plan.”
Even Daniel laughed.
Costa ran.
He didn't get far.
His own men began abandoning him as police vehicles surrounded the pier.
Men loyal to money discovered quickly that Costa had stolen theirs.
Within minutes, his organization collapsed into confusion.
Patrick reached Daniel.
Father and son held each other.
Iris stood near the water.
Declan approached.
“You sent the evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me.”
She looked at him.
“Annoying, isn't it?”
He stared.
Then laughed.
“I deserved that.”
“You absolutely did.”
His expression became serious.
“What happens now?”
“With Costa?”
“With you.”
Iris understood the question.
She looked toward the city.
“My clinic needs a new window.”
“I'll pay for it.”
“No.”
“I indirectly caused it.”
“Directly.”
“Fine. Directly.”
“You can pay the invoice.”
Declan smiled.
“And after that?”
Iris looked at him.
“After that, you give me the one thing you've been struggling to give since the night we met.”
“What?”
May you like
“A choice.”
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