Chapter 4 - The Women Who Stayed Silent
There were seven.
Roman's people found the first complaint before noon.
A former receptionist named Amy.
Then a bartender.
Two housekeepers.
A concierge.
A banquet coordinator.
And a woman named Grace who had quit the Regency three years earlier without explanation.
Elena sat in Roman's office as Sal placed the files on the desk.
"Seven women," Sal said.
Roman opened the first folder.
"Why weren't these reported?"
"They were."
Elena looked up.
"What?"
Sal nodded.
"Human resources buried them."
Roman's expression darkened.
"Who runs HR?"
"Patrick Doyle's sister."
Elena leaned back.
"So the whole family knew."
"Maybe," Roman said. "We prove it before saying it."
Elena looked at him.
"That's surprisingly responsible."
Roman glanced up.
"You expected bodies?"
"I expected you to solve everything by threatening people."
"Sometimes paperwork is more frightening."
She smiled.
It was the first genuine smile he'd seen.
Roman stared a second too long.
Elena noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're terrible at nothing."
Before Roman could answer, Sal's phone rang.
He listened.
Then looked at Roman.
"We have a problem."
"What?"
"Grace agreed to talk."
"That's good."
"She disappeared ten minutes ago."
Roman was on his feet immediately.
Elena followed.
"No."
She frowned.
"No what?"
"You're staying here."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Try again."
"Elena—"
"You wanted other women to talk because I spoke up. Grace agreed because of me."
"Which is exactly why you're a target."
"And hiding me makes Victor right."
Roman stepped closer.
"Being alive makes Victor wrong."
"Roman."
"No."
She stared at him.
"Is that an order?"
"Yes."
"Then I quit."
"You don't work for me."
"Exactly."
She grabbed her coat.
Roman looked at Sal.
Sal shrugged.
"Don't involve me."
---
Grace wasn't kidnapped.
She had run.
They found her at the central bus terminal trying to leave the city.
Elena approached alone.
"Grace?"
The woman turned.
Fear filled her face.
"Stay away from me."
"I'm Elena."
Grace froze.
"The Regency?"
Elena nodded.
Grace started crying.
"They said you'd disappear."
"Who?"
"Victor's people."
Roman remained twenty feet away with Sal.
Grace noticed him.
"Is that Valenti?"
"Yes."
"You're with him?"
"No."
Roman heard that.
Sal smirked.
Roman ignored him.
Elena continued.
"He helped me. That's different."
Grace shook her head.
"They're all the same."
"I thought that too."
"And now?"
Elena glanced toward Roman.
He deliberately looked away, giving them privacy.
"Now I think sometimes the difference isn't whether someone has power."
She looked back at Grace.
"It's what they do when you tell them no."
Grace studied Roman.
"He listens to you?"
"Eventually."
From twenty feet away, Roman muttered:
"I heard that."
For the first time, Grace laughed.
Then she agreed to testify.
Within forty-eight hours, five others followed.
Victor panicked.
And panicked men made mistakes.
He ordered records destroyed.
Sal intercepted the order.
Patrick Doyle tried negotiating.
Roman refused.
Then Victor made his worst mistake.
He called Elena himself.
She answered on speakerphone.
"You think Valenti can protect you forever?" Victor said.
Roman stood beside her.
Elena's hand trembled.
Roman didn't touch her.
He simply waited.
Elena took a breath.
"No."
Victor laughed.
"Smart girl."
"I don't need forever."
Silence.
"I only need long enough for everyone to hear what you really are."
She disconnected.
Roman looked at her.
"Your hand is shaking."
"I know."
"Are you afraid?"
"Terrified."
Roman nodded.
"So am I."
Elena stared at him.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Of Victor?"
Roman almost looked offended.
"No."
"Then what?"
He hesitated.
"That I won't be there the next time you need someone."
Elena's expression softened.
"Roman—"
Sal burst through the door.
"Boss."
Roman turned.
"Patrick Doyle just handed his son over to federal investigators."
Elena stared.
"What?"
Sal nodded.
"The old man chose the family business over Victor."
Roman looked at Elena.
"No war."
She slowly smiled.
"No war."
But Sal wasn't smiling.
"There's something else."
Roman's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
May you like
"Victor escaped before they could take him."
---
