Chapter 9 - The Empty Chair
Lorenzo refused to trade Mia for Marco. He also refused to let the message dictate his next move.
He sent Daniel to contact a federal investigator Sofia had trusted years earlier, Agent Rebecca Shaw. Then he and Luca planned a rescue that would keep Mia away from the docks.
Mia objected.
“I can help.”
“You already have,” Lorenzo said.
“Then let me finish.”
“You're eight.”
“Eight is old enough to know when someone is lying.”
Luca knelt beside her. “You can help by staying with Daniel. That's not nothing.”
Mia looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. It was the hardest promise she had ever made.
The warehouse stood near the old freight yard. Lorenzo entered through a side door while Luca covered the rear. Inside, Marco sat tied to a metal chair. Raffaele stood behind him, holding a pistol.
“You came,” Raffaele said.
“You asked.”
“I asked for the girl.”
“You don't get to ask for her.”
Raffaele smiled. “You still think this is about money. It isn't. Sofia was going to destroy everything. She believed we could turn this family into something respectable. She thought a few signatures and charity dinners would wash the blood away.”
“She was right about one thing,” Lorenzo said. “You were afraid of her.”
Raffaele struck Marco across the face. “Where's the ledger?”
“Not here.”
“Then you brought nothing.”
“I brought the truth.”
Lorenzo nodded toward the rafters. A small red light blinked above the loading bay. Rebecca Shaw had a team outside, recording every word.
Raffaele saw the light and fired. The warehouse erupted. Lorenzo dove behind a forklift as bullets punched through metal. Luca rushed Marco's chair and cut the restraints.
A side door burst open.
A child stood there.
Mia.
She had followed them.
“Get down!” Lorenzo shouted.
But Mia wasn't looking at him. She was staring at the far wall, where a second door had opened.
A man in a gray coat stepped out, holding a folder.
May you like
Councilman Adrian Vale.
And he was carrying the original ledger.
