Chapter 11 - The Breakfast Video
The video had been recorded from a hidden camera in the Romano kitchen.
Alessandro watched it once.
Then he made himself watch again.
At 12:43 a.m., Isabella entered carrying the white bottle. Carlo followed in a gray coat. The black-stone ring was on his right hand.
There was no Victor.
Carlo handed Isabella the bottle.
She whispered, “You said this won’t hurt him.”
Carlo replied, “It’ll keep him out of the vote.”
“What if he gets sick?”
“He’ll wake up.”
Then another voice came from off camera.
“No,” it said. “He probably won’t.”
Isabella turned sharply.
Carlo did too.
Neither looked surprised enough.
A man stepped into frame.
Enzo Romano.
Alessandro did not move.
His uncle looked straight toward the counter, unaware of the camera, and said, “You wanted control. Control has a price.”
Detective Grant paused the video.
Marco whispered, “Jesus.”
Alessandro felt something inside him go quiet.
Enzo had raised him after his father died. Taught him to drive. Sat beside him through his mother’s funeral. Told him family was the one thing nobody could buy.
“Play it.”
The video continued.
Isabella backed away. “You said one day.”
Enzo answered, “One day, one month, forever. It depends how much he eats.”
Carlo looked nervous. “Dad—”
“Don’t become weak now.”
Then a cup broke off camera.
Emma.
All three turned.
Isabella moved toward the sound first.
The recording ended.
Detective Grant immediately issued an alert for Enzo and Carlo.
But by the time police reached Enzo’s home, both men were gone.
On Alessandro’s phone, a message appeared from Enzo.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE CHILD SAFE.
Alessandro’s vision narrowed.
He called Maria.
No answer.
Called again.
Nothing.
Then Detective Grant’s phone rang.
She listened for ten seconds and swore.
“The safe-house officer is down,” she said. “Maria is injured.”
Alessandro could barely force out the question.
“And Emma?”
May you like
Grant looked at him.
“Emma is gone.”
