Chapter 4 - The Brother Who Sold a King
Black Ridge Warehouse sat beside an abandoned rail yard thirty miles north.
Dante didn't come alone.
He brought twelve men.
“They specifically said alone,” I whispered.
Dante adjusted his cuff.
“I have trouble following instructions.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Marco handed me a small transmitter.
“Stay in the vehicle.”
“My mother is inside.”
“And you're the reason they'll keep her alive.”
I hated that he was right.
Dante entered the warehouse.
Through the transmitter, I heard voices.
Gabriel Voss.
Dante.
Then another.
Anthony.
Dante's brother.
“You,” Dante said.
Anthony laughed bitterly.
“Surprised?”
“Disappointed.”
“You always were.”
“Where is Mrs. Dawson?”
“Safe.”
Gabriel interrupted.
“For now.”
Then my passenger door opened.
I screamed.
Evan grabbed my arm.
“Quiet.”
I hit him.
Hard.
His head snapped sideways.
He stared at me.
“You've changed.”
“No.”
I shoved him.
“I just stopped being afraid of you.”
He grabbed my bruised wrist.
Pain shot up my arm.
Then someone dragged him backward.
Marco.
Evan hit the ground.
Marco restrained him.
I ran toward the warehouse.
“Claire!”
Too late.
Inside, my mother was tied to a chair.
“Mom!”
“Claire!”
Gabriel turned.
“There she is.”
Dante's eyes flashed.
“I told you to stay outside.”
“Fire me.”
“You don't work for me.”
“Then stop giving me orders.”
Even Gabriel looked confused.
Dante almost smiled.
Anthony raised a pistol toward me.
Dante's expression died.
“Anthony.”
His brother's hand shook.
“Don't.”
“You took everything.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me scraps!”
“You had a house. Money. Businesses.”
“I had your shadow.”
Anthony's voice cracked.
“Every room I entered, people asked where Dante was.”
Dante took one slow step.
“You kidnapped an innocent woman because you were jealous?”
“I needed Voss.”
“No. Voss needed someone weak enough to betray his own blood.”
Gabriel's face tightened.
Anthony looked toward him.
That hesitation was enough.
Marco's men entered from both sides.
Chaos erupted.
No gunfire.
Just shouting, bodies moving, men surrendering as they realized every exit was blocked.
Anthony dropped his weapon.
Gabriel tried the rear door.
Locked.
Dante walked toward him.
Gabriel laughed.
“You risked everything for some woman you met this afternoon.”
Dante looked toward me.
Then at my mother.
“No.”
He turned back to Gabriel.
“I risked everything because men like you survive when decent people decide your crimes aren't their problem.”
Police sirens approached outside.
Gabriel stared.
“You called the police?”
Dante's mouth curved.
“Anonymous tip.”
“You're insane.”
“Frequently.”
My mother was released.
I ran to her.
She wrapped both arms around me.
Then she saw my wrist.
Her face changed.
“Oh, Claire.”
“I'm okay.”
“No.”
She touched my cheek.
“You are now.”
Behind us, officers entered.
Anthony was led away.
Evan followed.
He looked at me.
I looked straight back.
For the first time, I felt nothing.
Then Dante approached.
“Mrs. Dawson?”
My mother looked him up and down.
“You're Dante Moretti.”
“Yes.”
“The criminal?”
Marco coughed.
Dante sighed.
“Allegedly.”
My mother pointed at him.
“Did you save my daughter?”
Dante looked at me.
“She saved herself.”
That was when I realized something dangerous.
May you like
I trusted him.
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