Chapter 6 - Elena’s Real Name
We didn't go to Pier 41 to trade Elena.
We went to end Tony's game.
Daniel contacted federal investigators using Rafael Cruz's evidence.
Marcus agreed to testify.
So did Sofia.
At 11:57 p.m., Tony waited inside an abandoned waterfront office.
He had the ledger.
I entered alone.
“You actually came,” he said.
“You sound disappointed.”
“Where's Elena?”
“Safe.”
Tony laughed.
“You've grown sentimental.”
“Maybe.”
“You used to be smarter.”
“No. I used to trust you.”
That erased his smile.
Tony tossed the ledger onto a table.
“Your brother destroyed himself for this.”
“He died because he trusted the wrong man.”
“Same as you.”
A door opened behind me.
Elena entered.
I turned sharply.
“What are you doing?”
“I'm getting tired of men deciding where I'm allowed to go.”
Tony laughed.
“There she is.”
Elena stepped beside me.
“You killed my father.”
Tony shrugged.
“He made a choice.”
“So did you.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Tony's expression changed.
He reached for the ledger.
Marcus entered through another doorway.
“Don't.”
Tony stared.
“You.”
Marcus lowered his weapon but kept it ready.
“You used me.”
“I gave you purpose.”
“You gave me a lie.”
“You wanted to believe it.”
Marcus flinched.
Tony was right about that.
But Marcus didn't break.
“My father spent his last months trying to expose you.”
“And he failed.”
“No.”
Marcus looked toward Elena.
“She finished it.”
Tony turned.
Elena held up the flash drive.
His face finally changed.
Fear.
“You don't know what's on that.”
“I know enough.”
“You'll destroy hundreds of people.”
“Corrupt people.”
“Powerful people.”
“Even better.”
Federal agents entered.
Tony looked at me.
“You're letting them take me?”
“Yes.”
“After everything I know?”
“Tell them all of it.”
“You'll go down too.”
“Then I'll answer for what I've done.”
Elena looked at me.
Tony stared in disbelief.
That was the moment he understood he had lost.
Not because we had more weapons.
Because he no longer had anything to threaten me with.
They took him away.
Marcus stood beside me watching.
“What happens now?”
“You testify.”
“And after?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether you become the man your father wanted you to be.”
Marcus nodded.
Then he looked at Elena.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Saving me.”
She smiled.
“Which time?”
Marcus actually laughed.
He walked away.
Elena and I remained by the water.
“You called me Elena Cruz back there,” she said.
“That is your name.”
“You've called me Elena for three years.”
“I didn't know the rest.”
“You didn't ask.”
That hurt more than I expected.
“No.”
“You barely noticed me.”
“No.”
She looked out at the river.
“And now?”
I stood beside her.
“Now I notice everything.”
She turned toward me.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It probably is.”
May you like
For once, neither of us looked away.
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