Chapter 11 - THE EXCHANGE|
Roman arrived at the freight terminal with two vehicles and a locked case.
He had left most of his men outside the perimeter. Bringing an army would make the situation more dangerous for Norah, not less.
Marcus sat beside him.
“If this goes wrong, we have a second team ready.”
Roman looked toward the dark building.
“It won't go wrong.”
Marcus did not argue.
He had worked for Roman long enough to know that certainty was sometimes a form of prayer.
Roman stepped out of the car carrying the case.
A guard appeared near the entrance.
“Mr. Costa. Alone.”
Roman handed the case to Marcus.
“Wait here.”
“Boss—”
“That's an order.”
He entered the terminal.
The interior smelled of rust, oil, and old rain. Fluorescent lights illuminated a narrow corridor leading to the central loading area.
Victor stood beneath a hanging lamp.
Arthur waited beside him.
Norah sat in a chair behind them.
Her face was pale, and a small cut marked her lower lip, but she was conscious.
Roman's gaze locked on hers.
“Are you hurt?”
Norah shook her head.
“Not badly.”
Victor laughed.
“How touching.”
Roman looked at him.
“Let her go.”
“First, the ledger.”
Roman placed the case on a nearby table.
“Open it.”
Victor did.
Inside lay several folders and a blue notebook.
He examined the contents quickly.
“Where are the digital files?”
“Not here.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You expect me to believe you've handed over everything?”
“No.”
Roman's honesty surprised him.
“I expect you to understand that if you hurt her, every copy of the evidence goes to people you can't buy.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“You're bluffing.”
Roman looked at him.
“Am I?”
He removed his phone and placed it on the table.
“The records have already been delivered to an attorney outside this organization. If anything happens to Norah, the files go to federal investigators.”
Victor's face changed.
“You wouldn't destroy your own family.”
Roman's voice was cold.
“You should have thought of that before you betrayed it.”
Victor signaled to the guard beside Norah.
“Bring her here.”
The guard moved.
Norah looked at Roman.
For one brief moment, they exchanged a silent understanding.
She had nearly freed one hand.
When the guard reached for her, she twisted her wrist and slipped the loosened restraint over her fingers.
Then she drove her foot into his knee.
He shouted and stumbled.
Norah ran.
Arthur lunged toward her.
Roman intercepted him.
The two men crashed against the table, sending folders across the floor. Victor reached inside his coat.
Roman saw the movement.
“Don't.”
Victor froze.
Roman's weapon was aimed directly at him.
“Put it down.”
“You think you can threaten me?”
“I think you've spent your entire life confusing family loyalty with immunity.”
Victor slowly withdrew his hand.
A gun fell to the concrete.
Marcus and the waiting security team rushed through the entrance.
Within seconds, the guards had been disarmed, Arthur was restrained, and Victor was pinned against a support beam.
Norah stood several feet away, breathing hard.
Roman lowered his weapon and approached her.
“Let me see your face.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“It's a cut.”
His expression tightened.
“I should have protected you.”
Norah shook her head.
“You should have listened sooner.”
He accepted the truth.
“Yes.”
Behind them, Victor laughed bitterly.
“You think this ends here? You think the two of you can walk away from what your father built?”
Roman turned.
“My father is dead. His choices are not a commandment.”
Arthur looked at him with undisguised contempt.
“You'll lose everything.”
“Then I'll lose it.”
Roman glanced at Norah.
“But I won't lose another person because I was too proud to look at the truth.”
Police sirens sounded in the distance.
Marcus approached.
“The investigators are here.”
Victor's face went white.
Roman took Norah's hand, then stopped.
“May I?”
She looked at his hand for a moment.
Then she placed hers in it.
They walked out together.
But as they reached the waiting car, Norah noticed a man standing across the street.
He wore a dark overcoat and held a phone to his ear.
He watched Roman with an expression of quiet satisfaction.
Norah had never seen him before.
Yet something about him frightened her more than Victor ever had.
The man ended his call.
May you like
Then he mouthed two words across the street.
Your father.
