Chapter 5 - The Trap Inside the Trap
Mara refused to wait.
Luca argued.
She won.
Mostly because she climbed into his SUV and refused to get out.
They reached the abandoned ferry terminal twelve minutes later.
Broken windows faced the black harbor.
One of Adrian's vehicles sat damaged near the entrance.
The driver's door was open.
No Adrian.
Mara stepped out.
“Stay behind me,” Luca ordered.
“For once, gladly.”
They entered the terminal.
Then Mara heard a voice.
“She's persistent.”
Victor stepped from behind an old ticket counter.
Two men stood with him.
And Adrian was kneeling near the windows.
Blood marked one side of his forehead, but he was conscious.
“Mara.”
His voice sharpened.
“Get out.”
Victor smiled.
“She came for you.”
Mara looked at him.
“You're surprised?”
“I underestimated you once.”
“You underestimated everyone.”
Victor's smile vanished.
Adrian slowly stood.
One of Victor's men forced him back.
Victor looked toward Adrian.
“Twenty years.”
Adrian said nothing.
“I sat at your table for twenty years.”
“I know.”
“My father died because of yours.”
“My father was a monster.”
“And you inherited everything.”
“I inherited his enemies.”
“You inherited his empire!”
Adrian's voice remained calm.
“And you could've walked away.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You think this was about money?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Victor's eyes filled with anger.
“I wanted you to trust me.”
Adrian stared at him.
“I did.”
“And then I wanted you to understand what it feels like when family destroys you.”
Adrian's expression finally changed.
“You succeeded.”
Victor's smile weakened.
For one second, something almost human passed across his face.
Then Mara noticed Luca moving.
Slowly.
Behind a concrete column.
Victor's men were watching Adrian.
Not Luca.
Mara needed to keep Victor talking.
“So the poison wasn't enough?”
Victor looked at her.
“You ruined that.”
“You're welcome.”
“You really don't know when to stop.”
“No.”
“That's going to get you killed.”
Mara glanced at Adrian.
“People keep telling me that.”
Adrian's eyes shifted.
He had seen Luca.
Victor hadn't.
Mara continued.
“You know what your mistake was?”
Victor smiled.
“Enlighten me.”
“You thought Adrian's weakness was trusting people.”
Victor's expression changed.
Mara stepped forward.
“It isn't.”
“What is?”
“He notices things.”
Victor frowned.
Adrian suddenly dropped.
Luca moved.
The terminal erupted into shouting.
Mara threw herself behind the ticket counter.
Seconds stretched.
Then silence.
When she looked up, Victor was on the floor.
Alive.
Luca's men restrained him.
Adrian leaned against a concrete pillar.
Mara ran toward him.
“You're bleeding.”
“So I've been told.”
“You were supposed to come back.”
“I did.”
“Barely.”
Adrian smiled weakly.
“You're angry.”
“Very.”
“Good.”
“Why is that good?”
“Means you care.”
Mara stared at him.
“Don't become arrogant.”
“Too late.”
Behind them, Victor looked toward Adrian.
“Finish it.”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
Victor repeated it.
“Do it.”
Adrian walked toward him.
For several seconds, the two men simply looked at each other.
Then Adrian said, “No.”
Victor frowned.
“You don't deserve an easy ending.”
He looked at Luca.
“Turn him over with everything we've collected.”
Victor's face changed.
“Adrian.”
“You wanted to destroy my father's legacy?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“So do I.”
Then he walked away.
Mara followed.
Outside, dawn was beginning to brighten the harbor.
“You're really turning him over?”
“Yes.”
“That seems surprisingly legal.”
Adrian glanced at her.
“Don't sound disappointed.”
“I'm adapting.”
He stopped beside the SUV.
“Mara.”
“What?”
“You saved my life twice.”
“Technically once.”
“You warned me about Victor.”
“Yes.”
“Then you came here.”
“That was more poor judgment than heroism.”
Adrian smiled.
“What do you want?”
“A job.”
He blinked.
“That's it?”
“My workplace burned down.”
“I can give you money.”
“I don't want your money.”
“An apartment.”
“No.”
“A car.”
“Definitely no.”
He studied her.
“What kind of job?”
Mara looked at the enormous criminal empire standing around her in expensive suits.
Then back at him.
“Something where nobody poisons the coffee.”
Luca walked past them.
May you like
“That's a reasonable workplace requirement.”
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