Chapter 16 - THE MAN WHO FOLLOWED THE ORDERS|
The agents took cover.
Claire Donovan ordered Victor to put down his weapon.
He laughed.
"You people don't understand who you're dealing with."
"We understand exactly who we're dealing with," Claire replied. "You're surrounded."
Victor glanced toward the vehicles.
His men were already being detained by officers approaching from the rear road.
For the first time, his confidence faltered.
Rafael stepped forward.
"Who ordered Daniel Brooks's death?"
Victor's eyes moved toward him.
"Your father."
"And Luca?"
Victor smiled without warmth.
"Your brother made a mistake."
"He found out about the shipment."
"He found out too much."
Rafael's hands curled into fists.
Elena touched his arm.
"Let him talk."
Victor looked at her.
"Your father begged for his life. He offered to hand over the ledger. But he had already made copies."
Elena's stomach turned.
"Why did you kill him?"
"Because he refused to tell us where the originals were."
Rafael took another step.
Claire raised a hand.
"Mr. Moretti, stay back."
Victor's expression changed.
"Your father wanted you dead, Rafael. He thought you were too weak to lead the family. I was supposed to make sure you never reached the harbor that night."
Rafael stared at him.
"And when Luca took my car?"
Victor shrugged.
"Wrong man. Wrong night."
The words landed like a physical blow.
Elena felt Rafael's grief turn into fury.
But he did not attack.
He stood still.
"You're going to tell the investigators everything."
Victor laughed.
"Why would I?"
Claire lifted the recorder Vivienne had provided.
"Because we already have your conversation with Charles Sinclair."
Victor's smile disappeared.
The agents moved in.
He lowered his weapon and was taken into custody.
As the officers led him away, Victor turned toward Rafael.
"Your father would be ashamed of you."
Rafael looked at him.
"Good."
When the vehicles disappeared, Elena approached him.
He was staring at the road where Luca had once driven.
"He's gone," Rafael whispered.
"I know."
"I spent twelve years thinking I failed him."
Elena took his hand.
"You didn't cause what happened."
"I should have answered the phone."
"You were a son who trusted his father. That isn't a crime."
Rafael looked at her.
For a moment, he seemed ready to say something more.
Then Claire approached with the evidence case.
"We have the ledger. But there's a problem."
"What?"
She opened the final page.
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A recent handwritten note appeared beneath the old entries.
THE FINAL TRANSFER HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE SIGNATURE MUST COME FROM RAFAEL MORETTI.
