Chapter 4 - The Brother Who Never Died
The Lake Geneva property belonged to a dead company.
Damian arrived with Elena and Luca before dawn.
No army.
No parade of cars.
Just three people.
Elena stared through the windshield at the isolated house.
“If Daniel is inside—”
“We get him out.”
“And Marco?”
Damian looked at her.
“We get answers.”
They entered through an unlocked side door.
The house appeared abandoned.
Then Elena heard coughing.
“Daniel?”
Nothing.
She moved faster.
“Daniel!”
A weak voice came from behind a locked interior door.
“El?”
She stopped dead.
Nobody had called her that since childhood.
“Daniel?”
“Elena?”
She rushed forward.
Luca forced the damaged lock open.
Daniel Cross sat inside.
Alive.
Thin.
Exhausted.
But alive.
Elena dropped beside him.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Daniel laughed weakly.
“So are you.”
She hugged him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel saw Damian.
His expression changed.
“Rossi.”
Damian crouched.
“You caused me considerable trouble.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Who betrayed me?”
Daniel looked toward Elena.
“You figured out Marco?”
“Yes.”
“He isn’t the traitor.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
“He’s working for him.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at Luca.
Luca’s face hardened.
“Don’t look at me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not you.”
Then footsteps sounded upstairs.
Damian stood.
A man appeared at the doorway.
Anthony Bellini.
The accountant.
Elena stared.
“No.”
Anthony smiled.
“Daniel always was difficult to kill.”
Damian’s expression became lethal.
“You.”
Anthony shrugged.
“Twenty-one years I balanced your family’s books.”
“You built Northshore.”
“I built everything you were too arrogant to notice.”
Damian took one step forward.
Anthony raised his phone.
“Don’t.”
Damian stopped.
Anthony smiled.
“The house is surrounded by men who believe Damian Rossi murdered Daniel Cross.”
Elena understood.
“You want Damian blamed.”
“I want his empire leaderless.”
Daniel struggled upright.
“Marco gave you access.”
“Marco gave me everything.”
“Why?”
Anthony laughed.
“Because Marco spent his entire life watching Damian inherit what he believed should have been his.”
Damian’s jaw tightened.
“You used him.”
“I paid him.”
“That’s usually how stupid men become useful.”
Anthony’s smile faded.
Then another voice came from behind him.
“Still arrogant, cousin.”
Marco stepped into view.
Damian looked at him.
“You sold us.”
Marco’s eyes burned.
“You never saw me.”
“I trusted you.”
“You commanded me.”
“I treated you like family.”
“You treated me like an employee.”
Damian stared at him for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
Marco frowned.
“What?”
“You think Anthony plans to share Chicago with you?”
Anthony’s expression changed.
Marco glanced sideways.
That tiny movement was enough.
Damian continued.
“You’re his final loose end.”
“Shut up.”
“Ask him.”
Marco looked at Anthony.
“Tell him he’s lying.”
Anthony said nothing.
Marco’s face slowly collapsed.
Damian whispered, “There’s your answer.”
Outside, sirens suddenly approached.
Anthony spun toward Elena.
“What did you do?”
Elena held up her phone.
“Daniel taught me something.”
Anthony stared.
“Never walk into a trap without telling somebody where it is.”
Damian looked at her.
“You called the police?”
“Not exactly.”
Daniel smiled weakly.
“Federal task force.”
Damian sighed.
“Of course it is.”
Elena looked at him.
May you like
“You’re welcome.”
For once, Damian Rossi laughed at exactly the wrong moment.
