Chapter 6 - Vincent's Last Bargain
Rain hammered the abandoned terminal.
Vincent stood beneath the loading canopy.
He wasn't alone.
Neither was I.
Marcus remained hidden with trusted security.
Michael stood near the entrance.
Maria had been ordered to remain home with Sofia.
Naturally, Maria ignored me.
She appeared beside my car.
I stared at her.
“What are you doing?”
“Finishing what Gabriel started.”
“I told you to stay home.”
“You also told Sofia she couldn't have ice cream before dinner.”
“She negotiated.”
“So will I.”
“This isn't funny.”
“I know.”
Vincent clapped slowly from across the terminal.
“Beautiful.”
We turned.
He smiled.
“The mighty Daniel Hale taking orders from the maid.”
Maria stepped beside me.
“Gabriel wasn't stealing from Daniel.”
Vincent shrugged.
“No.”
“You framed him.”
“Yes.”
“You chased him that night.”
Vincent's smile disappeared.
“He should've kept driving.”
Maria's breath caught.
Michael stepped forward.
“You said you didn't kill him.”
Vincent looked at him.
“I didn't touch him.”
“You forced him off the road.”
“I frightened him. Gravity did the rest.”
Michael lunged.
I stopped him.
“No.”
Vincent smiled again.
“Still controlling everyone, Daniel?”
“Not tonight.”
I held up the metal case.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
“Then answer something.”
“What?”
“Why?”
Vincent laughed.
“Because I gave you eleven years and remained your lieutenant.”
“I trusted you.”
“I didn't want trust. I wanted your chair.”
“So three men died.”
“Necessary.”
“Gabriel died.”
“Unfortunate.”
Maria's voice shook.
“He had a daughter.”
Vincent glanced at her.
“Everyone has somebody.”
I finally understood the difference between us.
Vincent thought caring about someone was leverage.
My father had believed the same thing.
Maybe I had too.
Not anymore.
“You lose,” I said.
Vincent frowned.
“You came here with the evidence.”
“No.”
I opened the case.
Empty.
His face changed.
Maria almost smiled.
“The real records were copied hours ago,” I said.
Vincent stepped backward.
“To where?”
“Places you can't reach.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Vincent stared at me.
“You called the police?”
“Not exactly.”
Gabriel's records had been delivered through attorneys to federal investigators along with documentation proving Vincent's financial crimes and involvement in multiple conspiracies.
Vincent looked furious.
“You think they'll leave your businesses alone?”
“No.”
That surprised him.
I continued.
“Maybe they investigate me too.”
“You'd risk everything?”
I looked at Maria.
“Yes.”
Vincent shook his head.
“You've become weak.”
“No.”
I thought of Sofia's blanket.
“I finally have something money can't buy.”
Authorities surrounded the terminal.
Vincent looked toward the exits.
There weren't any left.
Michael approached Maria.
“I should've helped Gabriel.”
“Yes,” she said.
“I'll testify.”
Maria studied him.
“That doesn't make us even.”
“I know.”
“But it's a start.”
Vincent was taken away.
For the first time in years, I felt no satisfaction watching an enemy lose.
Only relief.
Maria turned to me.
“What happens now?”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“You're fired.”
Her mouth fell open.
“What?”
“You disobey orders.”
“Daniel Hale—”
“You're terrible at following instructions.”
“You arrogant—”
“And I'm promoting you.”
She stopped.
“To what?”
I smiled.
“We'll negotiate.”
For the first time since I'd met her, Maria laughed.
May you like
And I realized I wanted to hear it again.
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