Chapter 18 - THE OLD WAREHOUSE|
The old Russo warehouse stood beside the river, abandoned for more than a decade.
Vincent refused to enter without a plan. He coordinated with the authorities, arranged surveillance, and placed Paulie's team around the building.
Nora stayed in the command vehicle with Lena.
But when the warehouse doors opened, she saw Dominic standing inside.
He was holding the original ledger.
Beatrice stood beside him.
Arthur Russo was seated near a steel table.
Vincent entered.
“Put the ledger down.”
Arthur laughed.
“You always were too much like your mother.”
Vincent ignored him.
“Where's Camila?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
Arthur smiled.
“You'll see.”
Beatrice stepped forward.
“Give us the microfilm and the documents. We can end this peacefully.”
Vincent looked at her.
“You had twenty years to do that.”
“Your family was never going to survive with Lena's secrets exposed.”
Nora entered behind Vincent.
“My mother wasn't your problem. Your greed was.”
Beatrice turned.
“You should have stayed in Queens.”
Nora looked at Dominic.
“Give me the ledger.”
Dominic hesitated.
Arthur raised a small remote control.
“Don't move.”
Paulie's voice came through Vincent's earpiece.
“Boss, we have the exits covered.”
Arthur pressed the button.
Nothing happened.
His expression changed.
Vincent smiled coldly.
“You're not the only one who knows this building.”
The warehouse doors opened.
Police officers entered.
Beatrice tried to run, but Paulie blocked her path. Dominic dropped the ledger and raised his hands.
Arthur reached for a hidden weapon.
Vincent moved quickly, knocking it away before officers restrained him.
The room fell silent.
Beatrice stared at Nora.
“You think you've won?”
Nora looked at her.
“No. I think you finally have to answer for what you did.”
The ledger was recovered.
It contained proof that Arthur had arranged the false death records, while Beatrice had paid the people who removed Lena from New York. Dominic had helped conceal the truth and had kept Nora's identity hidden.
But the final document revealed something even more disturbing.
Arthur had planned to transfer control of the family businesses to a trust that would be managed by Beatrice.
He had used the old peace agreement to disguise the transfer.
Vincent looked at his father.
“You were going to hand everything to the Gallows.”
Arthur's expression was bitter.
“Power belongs to whoever can hold it.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No. That's why this family became what it did.”
As the police led Arthur away, he turned toward Camila's photograph in Vincent's hand.
“Your mother never understood what it took to keep this family alive.”
Vincent looked at him.
“She understood what it took to keep it human.”
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Then the warehouse doors closed.
For the first time in twenty years, the Russo family secrets were no longer hidden.
