Chapter 5 - The Trap Daniel Never Saw Coming
Daniel chose an abandoned textile warehouse near the river.
Victor was instructed to arrive alone at midnight.
Instead, Sadi arrived first.
Daniel stared at her.
“That wasn’t the arrangement.”
Sadi walked slowly forward.
“Where’s Sam?”
Daniel smiled.
“Braver than you look.”
“Where is he?”
A door opened.
Sam sat in a wheelchair twenty feet away, pale and exhausted but conscious.
“Sadi?”
She nearly ran to him.
Daniel raised one hand.
“Stay.”
Sadi stopped.
“Let him go.”
“When Victor arrives.”
“He won’t.”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“What?”
“I told him not to come.”
Daniel studied her.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
“You think he’d abandon you?”
“I think Victor finally understood what you’re doing.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“And what am I doing?”
“Trying to make him behave like you.”
Daniel laughed.
Behind him, Sam coughed.
Sadi’s heart twisted.
“You want him furious. You want him careless. You want him to come through that door thinking about revenge instead of strategy.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You’ve learned quickly.”
“No.”
A voice came from the darkness.
“She’s always been smart.”
Victor stepped into view.
Daniel spun.
Victor was alone.
At least, he appeared alone.
“You came,” Daniel said.
Victor looked at Sam.
“Of course.”
Sadi’s eyes filled.
Daniel reached inside his jacket.
Victor stopped.
“Don’t.”
Daniel smiled.
“Still giving orders.”
“No.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward the ceiling.
“I’m buying time.”
Suddenly the warehouse lights came on.
Doors opened from three directions.
Marco and Victor’s men moved inside.
Daniel’s face changed.
“How?”
Victor looked at Sadi.
Daniel followed his gaze.
Then understood.
The phone in Sadi’s apron had been transmitting the entire conversation.
Daniel grabbed her.
Victor’s composure finally broke.
“Sadi!”
She twisted away.
A gunshot cracked.
Victor stumbled.
Everything stopped.
Sadi screamed.
Victor dropped to one knee.
Marco’s men overwhelmed Daniel before he could move again.
Sadi ran.
“Victor!”
Blood spread across his shirt near his side.
He looked down.
“Damn.”
“Don’t you dare.”
She pressed both hands against the wound.
“Sadi.”
“Quiet.”
“That’s my line.”
“Not tonight.”
His face had gone pale.
Behind them, Marco freed Sam.
“Sadi!”
She looked up.
Her brother was alive.
Safe.
Victor followed her gaze.
“Good.”
Then his eyes closed.
“Victor?”
Nothing.
“Victor!”
She slapped his cheek.
“Open your eyes.”
His eyelids moved.
“There,” she whispered. “Stay with me.”
“You’re very bossy for someone who cleans my house.”
She laughed through tears.
“And you’re very annoying for someone bleeding on my hands.”
His mouth almost smiled.
“Fair.”
Sirens approached.
Sadi pressed harder against the wound.
Victor winced.
“Sorry.”
“You’re still not.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
Then he said something so quietly she almost missed it.
“I knew you mattered.”
Her hands froze.
“What?”
“In the dining room.”
“Victor—”
“I should’ve said it properly.”
“You can say it later.”
“What if—”
“There is no what-if.”
His eyes stayed on hers.
Sadi leaned closer.
“You’re going to the hospital. Sam is safe. Daniel lost.”
Victor breathed slowly.
“And you?”
“I’m right here.”
For once, Victor Costello had no answer.
May you like
He simply held her wrist until the paramedics arrived.
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