Chapter 4 - Someone Wants the Caruso Twins
The attack happened on Thursday.
Elise had taken the twins to a pediatric appointment.
I insisted on an armored SUV.
She called it ridiculous.
Forty minutes later, it saved her life.
I was reviewing shipping reports when Marco's phone rang.
His face changed.
"Boss."
"What?"
"They hit the SUV."
Everything inside me went still.
"Who?"
"Don't know yet."
"My daughters?"
"Alive."
I was already moving.
"Elise?"
A pause.
"Alive."
I didn't remember the drive.
I remembered arriving.
Broken glass covered the intersection.
A black SUV had slammed into one side of my vehicle.
Another had blocked the street.
My guards had returned fire.
The attackers fled.
Elise sat against an ambulance.
Blood streaked her forehead.
Maisie was clutched against her chest.
Rosie was screaming in a paramedic's arms.
I ran to them.
"Give her to me."
The medic handed me Rosie.
She buried her face against my neck.
My hands shook.
I hadn't shaken in fifteen years.
Elise stared at me.
"They're okay."
"You're bleeding."
"It's a cut."
"I wasn't asking."
She blinked.
I crouched before her.
"Did anyone touch you?"
"No."
"The girls?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Alessandro."
She placed her hand over mine.
"They're alive."
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Marco approached.
"We have a problem."
"What?"
"The attackers knew the route."
Elise heard him.
"What does that mean?"
I looked at Marco.
He answered.
"The appointment was private. The route changed this morning."
Her face went pale.
"Someone inside the house told them."
By midnight, we found him.
Vincent Romano.
My estate manager.
He had served my family for twenty-two years.
He sat in my office with his hands folded while Marco placed the evidence on the desk.
Phone records.
Bank transfers.
Messages.
Vincent didn't deny it.
"Why?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"My son."
I stared at him.
"Explain."
"He owed Vescari money."
"How much?"
"Four hundred thousand."
Elise stood behind me.
Vincent continued.
"They said they'd kill him. Then they said if I gave them schedules, they'd erase the debt."
"You gave them my daughters' schedule."
"I didn't know they'd attack."
My chair scraped back.
Vincent flinched.
I drew my pistol.
Elise gasped.
"Alessandro."
Vincent closed his eyes.
"Boss... I'm sorry."
I raised the weapon.
Twenty-two years of service.
One betrayal.
That was enough in my world.
"Alessandro."
Elise moved between us.
"Move."
"No."
My voice dropped.
"Elise."
"Your daughters are upstairs."
"This doesn't concern them."
"It concerns everything they become."
Vincent was crying now.
"You almost died today."
"But I didn't."
"He betrayed my family."
"I know."
"Then move."
She didn't.
"You want them to grow up remembering that their father kills people whenever he's hurt?"
"They won't know."
"They always know."
My hand tightened around the pistol.
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Don't make grief the only inheritance Sophia left them."
That stopped me.
Sophia.
Again.
But this time it didn't feel like a weapon.
It felt like her hand on my shoulder.
I slowly lowered the gun.
Vincent opened his eyes.
"Get him out."
Marco grabbed him.
Vincent looked at me.
"Thank you."
"Don't."
My voice was ice.
"You'll never work for me again. Your son will be moved somewhere Vescari can't reach him. You'll cooperate with the police on everything you know."
He stared at me.
"Police?"
"That's what people use when they stop solving every problem with bullets."
Elise looked at me.
I ignored her.
After Vincent was removed, the room emptied.
Only Elise remained.
"You changed your mind."
"For my daughters."
"Of course."
I looked at her.
"And because you stood in front of a loaded gun."
She swallowed.
"That was probably stupid."
"It was incredibly stupid."
"You're welcome."
I stared at her.
Then, somehow, we both laughed.
It felt strange.
Almost illegal.
Then Elise became serious.
"Alessandro."
"What?"
"The people who attacked us..."
"We'll find them."
"That's not what I'm asking."
I waited.
"If staying here puts the girls in more danger..."
"No."
"But—"
"No."
She searched my face.
"You can't decide for me."
"No. But I can tell you what happens if you leave."
"What?"
"Maisie cries."
She almost smiled.
"Rosie stops eating."
Another small smile.
"And I..."
I stopped.
She waited.
"And you?"
For the first time in years, I didn't know how to finish a sentence.
Finally I said, "This house becomes quiet again."
Elise's expression softened.
Neither of us moved.
Then the nursery monitor crackled.
Rosie started crying.
Elise smiled.
"Saved by the baby."
I exhaled.
May you like
"Apparently."
We went upstairs together.
