Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Inside Harbor
Emergency lights cast the warehouse in dim red.
Roman reached the main floor.
“Show yourself.”
A voice came from behind the loading bays.
“Still impulsive.”
Roman froze.
A man stepped into view.
Not Victor.
Daniel Costa.
Roman’s uncle.
Carmine’s younger brother.
Roman’s expression changed.
“Uncle Danny?”
Daniel smiled.
“You always were slow with the important things.”
Sadie remained hidden behind the stairwell.
Roman looked toward the office.
C.C.
Not Carmine Costa.
Costa Consolidated.
Daniel’s holding company.
Roman understood at the same moment.
“You used Luca’s initials.”
“He was going to destroy everything your father built.”
“You killed him?”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“Luca made a choice.”
Roman took one step forward.
Daniel’s men appeared from behind the loading bays.
Roman stopped.
Daniel continued.
“He wanted legitimacy. Audits. Clean books. He wanted to expose decades of arrangements because he suddenly developed a conscience.”
“He was your nephew.”
“He was going to put his own father in prison.”
Roman’s breathing changed.
Sadie recognized the warning signs.
His shoulders stiffened.
Hands closed.
Daniel smiled.
“Go ahead.”
Roman stared at him.
“That’s what you want,” Sadie said.
Everyone turned.
Roman’s face fell.
“Sadie, what are you doing?”
She walked into view.
“Stopping you from being stupid.”
Daniel laughed.
“This is her?”
Sadie looked at him.
“Unfortunately for you.”
Roman whispered, “Leave.”
“No.”
Daniel studied her.
“The waitress.”
“Office manager.”
“The woman who fixed Harbor.”
“Apparently not completely.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
Roman immediately moved.
Sadie touched Roman’s arm.
“Don’t.”
Daniel noticed.
“So the stories are true.”
“What stories?” Sadie asked.
“That Roman Costa finally found someone who can put a leash on him.”
Roman lunged one step.
Sadie caught his wrist.
“Roman.”
He looked down at her hand.
“Don’t give him what he wants.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
Sadie lifted her phone.
“And before you continue confessing, you should know I called Carmine eleven minutes ago.”
Silence.
Daniel stared at her.
“You’re bluffing.”
The warehouse doors opened.
Carmine Costa entered.
Several security men followed.
His face was devastatingly calm.
“Unfortunately, Daniel, she isn’t.”
Daniel’s confidence vanished.
“Carmine.”
Carmine looked at Roman.
Then Sadie.
Then his brother.
“I spent a year watching my son destroy himself because he believed he failed Luca.”
Daniel said nothing.
“You watched it too.”
“Carmine, listen—”
“No.”
Carmine’s voice remained quiet.
“My entire life, you’ve mistaken my patience for weakness.”
Daniel backed away.
Roman stepped forward.
“Did you kill Luca?”
Daniel looked at him.
Roman repeated it.
“Did you kill my brother?”
Daniel’s silence was enough.
Roman’s face collapsed.
For one terrifying moment, Sadie thought he would attack.
Instead, Roman closed his eyes.
His hands trembled.
Sadie stood beside him.
“Roman.”
He opened his eyes.
She held out the same white handkerchief.
“Not tonight.”
Roman stared at it.
Then took it.
Carmine looked at his son.
Something like pride appeared in the older man’s eyes.
“Take Daniel out,” Carmine ordered.
His men escorted Daniel away.
No fight.
No shattered furniture.
No blood.
Just consequences.
When the doors finally closed, Roman looked at his father.
“You knew Luca was investigating someone.”
“Yes.”
“And you hid it.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Roman laughed bitterly.
“You almost destroyed me.”
“I know.”
Carmine’s voice broke slightly.
“I know.”
Roman walked away.
Sadie followed him outside.
Rain fell across the empty parking lot.
Roman stood beneath it without moving.
“Roman.”
“He died thinking I hated him.”
Sadie stopped beside him.
“No.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Then why did Luca keep records at Harbor?”
Roman looked at her.
“Why leave clues somewhere you worked?”
He slowly understood.
Sadie continued.
“He trusted you to finish what he started.”
Roman’s eyes filled, but he looked away.
Sadie didn’t hug him.
She didn’t tell him everything would magically be fine.
She simply stood beside him.
After a long silence, Roman whispered:
“I don’t know how to be the person he thought I could be.”
May you like
Sadie answered:
“Start tomorrow.”
