Chapter 5 - The Enemy Already Inside
Victor Dane refused to talk.
He didn't need to.
Security footage did it for him.
At 6:12 that evening, someone had opened a staff entrance for him.
Someone inside Luca's organization.
Ronan placed the photograph on Luca's desk.
Elara stood nearby.
The man in the image was familiar.
Too familiar.
Marcus Bell.
Mrs. Bell's nephew.
Luca's financial administrator.
A man who had worked inside the estate for nine years.
“No,” Mrs. Bell whispered.
Marcus was brought into the library.
He didn't deny anything.
Luca remained seated.
“Why?”
Marcus smiled bitterly.
“Because your father destroyed mine.”
“My father has been dead twelve years.”
“And I've been waiting eleven.”
Celeste stood beside the fireplace.
“My family?”
“Convenient.”
“You were going to start a war.”
Marcus shrugged.
“I expected Luca to die. Your father would deny involvement. Ronan would retaliate. Within a week, half the leadership of both organizations would be gone.”
“And then?” Elara asked.
Marcus looked at her.
“And then people like me inherit what's left.”
Luca rose.
Marcus's confidence disappeared.
Elara stepped between them.
“Luca.”
Everyone froze.
She had never called him that.
His eyes met hers.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Elara.”
“If you hurt him now, everyone will say the Wolf behaved exactly as expected.”
Marcus smiled.
Elara turned toward him.
“And you're going to stop smiling.”
His smile faded.
She looked back at Luca.
“Give him to the authorities. Give them the vial. The footage. The financial records.”
Ronan stared at her.
“You're suggesting Luca Valenti call the police?”
“I'm suggesting he do something nobody expects.”
Luca considered her.
Then slowly—
he smiled.
“Ronan.”
“Yes?”
“Call them.”
Marcus went pale.
May you like
For the first time that evening, Elara smiled too.
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