Chapter 3 - The Brother Who Left a Trap
“Victor,” Damian said toward the speaker.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I am.”
“Because I betrayed you?”
“Because Andrew figured you out before I did.”
Silence.
Then Victor laughed.
“You always did respect intelligent men.”
Damian looked at Martha and silently pointed toward the service corridor.
She shook her head.
He pointed again.
She mouthed, No.
Victor continued.
“Send Martha out. I’ll let her leave.”
Martha leaned toward the microphone.
“You murdered my brother.”
Victor paused.
“So the maid has a voice.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
Martha’s eyes narrowed.
“But you know who did.”
“I know Andrew should have minded his business.”
Damian muted the microphone.
“He’s stalling.”
“For what?”
Damian looked toward the ventilation shaft.
“For Cross.”
A faint hiss started overhead.
Martha backed away.
“Again?”
Damian grabbed the memory card.
“Move.”
They entered the service corridor with Teresa.
Behind them, vapor poured into the security room.
They descended a narrow staircase.
Martha whispered, “Where are we going?”
“Garage.”
“That will be guarded.”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t sound like a plan.”
“It’s the beginning of one.”
They reached the lower level.
Damian opened a panel overlooking the underground garage.
Two armed men stood beside the vehicles.
Victor’s men.
Damian handed Martha his phone.
“Call this number.”
“No signal.”
“It uses an independent network.”
“Who am I calling?”
“Detective Lena Ortiz.”
Martha stared at him.
“A mafia boss has a detective on speed dial?”
“She hates me.”
“That makes more sense.”
The call connected.
A woman answered.
“Falcone.”
“Ortiz,” Damian said. “I need a favor.”
“Those words coming from you usually ruin my week.”
“I have evidence concerning Andrew Bellini’s murder.”
Martha stepped closer.
Ortiz became serious.
“Where are you?”
“My house.”
“Stay there.”
“Working on it.”
Damian ended the call.
Martha stared at him.
“You’re giving evidence to the police?”
“I promised Andrew I would.”
“When?”
“Three days before he died.”
Martha’s anger returned.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because the evidence disappeared with him.”
“You had the lighter.”
“I didn’t know what was inside.”
“Why should I believe you?”
Damian turned toward her.
“You shouldn’t.”
The answer stopped her.
He continued.
“Believe evidence. Believe your brother’s voice. Believe what you see. But don’t trust me because I tell you to.”
Martha lowered her gaze.
“What did Andrew do for you?”
“He wasn’t my employee.”
“Then what?”
“He was an accountant hired by one of my legitimate companies.”
“And he discovered Victor stealing?”
“Something much bigger.”
Teresa suddenly whispered, “Someone’s coming.”
Footsteps approached.
Damian pushed Martha behind a concrete pillar.
Dr. Cross entered the garage carrying his medical bag.
Victor followed.
Martha watched through the gap.
Cross looked nervous.
“You said Falcone would already be unconscious.”
“He escaped.”
“This wasn’t the arrangement.”
Victor grabbed the doctor by his collar.
“The arrangement changed.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No one leaves.”
Victor released him.
“Find Damian.”
“And the woman?”
Victor’s expression changed.
“Bellini?”
Cross froze.
Victor smiled.
“Yes. Andrew’s sister.”
Martha’s fingers tightened around the gun.
Cross whispered, “You said she didn’t know anything.”
“She didn’t.”
“Then let her go.”
Victor stepped closer.
“She knows now.”
Cross shook his head.
“I agreed to help with Falcone. Not civilians.”
Victor pulled his gun.
A shot cracked through the garage.
Cross collapsed.
Martha flinched.
Damian covered her mouth before she could make a sound.
Victor calmly looked at the body.
“Clean this up.”
His men dragged Cross away.
When the garage was empty, Martha whispered, “He killed him.”
“Yes.”
“We need to leave.”
“We need the final file.”
“Andrew said opening it on your network alerts them.”
“We’re no longer on my network.”
Damian removed a small offline device from the armored SUV.
They climbed inside.
Martha inserted the card.
The final folder opened.
One photograph appeared.
Damian stopped breathing.
Martha looked at him.
“Who is that?”
The photograph showed Victor shaking hands with an elegant man in his sixties.
Damian’s voice became almost inaudible.
“My uncle.”
“Name?”
“Carlo Falcone.”
Martha looked at the screen.
“I thought you were head of the family.”
“I am.”
“Then why would your uncle want you dead?”
Damian’s face hardened.
“Because twenty years ago, my father chose me instead of him.”
Another audio file appeared.
Andrew’s voice.
“Carlo is moving money through Victor. I believe they’re preparing to remove Damian and blame the resulting violence on rival families.”
Martha closed her eyes.
Andrew continued.
“If I die, Carlo knows I discovered him.”
Then came the final sentence.
“And if Martha ever hears this—Marty, I’m sorry.”
Martha’s eyes filled, but she stayed silent.
“I tried to keep you away from this.”
The recording ended.
Damian looked at her.
“We have enough.”
“For what?”
“To destroy Carlo.”
A knock hit the SUV window.
Victor stood outside.
Gun raised.
“Open the door, Damian.”
Behind him, ten armed men filled the garage.
May you like
Victor smiled.
“Your uncle wants to see you.”
