Chapter 6 - The Night Adeline Disappeared
Vincent called Camille before fear became thought.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Mateo was already moving.
Federal team at the lodge failed to respond.
Vincent’s wound screamed as he climbed into the SUV.
“You're not driving,” Mateo said.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“You sound like Camille.”
“Terrifying.”
They reached the lodge in thirty-two minutes.
Doors open.
One federal vehicle damaged.
Two agents injured.
Alive.
Isabella unconscious but breathing.
Camille gone.
Adeline gone.
Mateo stood in the kitchen.
For one terrible moment, he looked like he might break.
Vincent did not allow him.
“Not now.”
Mateo stared.
“That’s my wife.”
“And my—”
Vincent stopped.
My what?
Camille wasn’t his.
Adeline wasn't his.
Yet the absence felt like something carved out of him.
Mateo noticed.
“Your what?”
“Not now.”
A phone rang.
Isabella’s.
Unknown caller.
Vincent answered.
Rafael.
“Hello, nephew.”
Vincent’s entire body went cold.
“Where are they?”
“Alive.”
“Proof.”
A video arrived.
Camille tied to a chair.
Adeline sitting on her lap.
Not tied.
Crying quietly.
Green alligator squeezed against her chest.
Vincent’s breathing changed.
Rafael continued.
“The child has remarkable survival instincts.”
“You touch her—”
“Please.”
Rafael laughed.
“You've become sentimental.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“You bring Mateo.”
Vincent looked at him.
“And?”
“Original freight ledger.”
“Which one?”
“The one Isabella stole.”
Vincent knew.
The ledger from Box 317.
It documented names.
Payments.
Politicians.
Judges.
Rafael wanted it destroyed.
“Exchange?”
“Mateo and ledger for woman and child.”
Mateo had heard enough.
He nodded.
Yes.
Vincent ignored him.
“Why Mateo?”
“Old debt.”
“No.”
Rafael paused.
Vincent knew his uncle.
Something else.
“You need him.”
Silence.
“Why?”
Rafael said nothing.
Vincent smiled coldly.
“The offshore accounts.”
Mateo looked at him.
Vincent guessed.
Rafael’s network used identity-linked access created years ago.
Mateo had been account controller.
Maybe his biometric authentication remained necessary for dormant funds.
Rafael needed him alive.
Vincent suddenly had leverage.
“You don’t get him.”
Mateo frowned.
Rafael laughed.
“Then the maid dies.”
Vincent’s voice sharpened.
“Not child?”
Rafael stopped.
There.
Vincent found something.
“You won't kill Adeline.”
“Don’t test me.”
“You need her mother cooperative.”
Silence again.
Vincent continued.
“Camille knows something.”
Rafael hung up.
Mateo stared.
“What?”
“Your wife has leverage.”
“She doesn't know anything.”
“She may without realizing.”
They woke Isabella.
She understood immediately.
“Mia’s break-in.”
Camille’s first daughter.
“What about it?”
“Rafael’s men were looking for something Mateo mailed.”
Mateo frowned.
“I mailed nothing.”
“Maybe someone did in your name.”
Vincent looked at Isabella.
“What?”
She remembered a package.
Years ago.
Mateo’s federal contact attempted to send Camille a copy of access codes.
Never confirmed delivery.
The package may have arrived before the break-in.
Mia died during the search.
But what if the intruders failed?
What if Camille kept something without knowing?
Vincent called Rafael again.
No answer.
Then Camille called him.
Her number.
“Vincent.”
Her voice shook.
“Where are you?”
“I don't know.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Addie?”
“Here.”
A tiny voice:
“Uncle Vin.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“I’m here.”
“Come.”
“I am.”
Rafael’s voice replaced Camille’s.
“Enough.”
“Where?”
“Old sugar mill.”
Vincent knew it.
Castellano-owned property west of the city.
Abandoned.
Perfect.
“Two hours.”
Vincent said:
“One.”
He ended the call.
Mateo grabbed the ledger.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She’s my wife.”
“She hasn't been your wife in seven years.”
That hurt.
Necessary.
Mateo stared.
Vincent continued.
“She gets to decide what you are later. Right now we get them out.”
They went with a small federal tactical team.
No Castellano security.
Nobody knew who remained loyal.
At the sugar mill, Rafael stood above them on a metal platform.
Camille sat nearby.
Adeline against her.
Marcus stood beside Rafael.
Anthony too.
The old guard.
Almost poetic.
Rafael called:
“Mateo.”
Mateo stepped forward.
“Release them.”
“Ledger.”
Vincent held it.
“First the child.”
Rafael laughed.
“You bargain strangely.”
“She has nothing to do with this.”
“Neither did Mia.”
Camille flinched.
Mateo’s face changed.
Rafael smiled.
That was cruel.
Intentional.
Vincent realized something.
“You ordered the break-in.”
Rafael didn’t deny it.
Camille stopped breathing.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You killed my daughter.”
“I never told them to hurt anyone.”
“That’s what all of you say.”
Her voice changed.
Not grief.
Rage.
Adeline started crying.
Camille immediately softened.
“It’s okay, baby.”
Vincent looked at Rafael.
“Let her go.”
“Ledger.”
Vincent held it over a rusted industrial burner.
Rafael’s expression changed.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
“You need evidence.”
“Copies exist.”
Lie.
Some did.
Not all.
Rafael didn't know.
Vincent lowered the ledger.
“Child first.”
Marcus whispered something to Rafael.
Rafael nodded.
Camille kissed Adeline.
“Go to Uncle Vin.”
Adeline ran.
Tiny legs across concrete.
Vincent crouched.
She crashed into him.
He held her so tightly his wound opened beneath his shirt.
He didn't care.
“Uncle Vin bleeding again.”
He laughed despite himself.
“Apparently.”
“Mama says doctor.”
“Yes.”
“Later.”
Camille called:
“Addie, stay with him.”
Vincent handed the child to a federal officer behind cover.
Then looked up.
“Camille.”
She met his eyes.
He understood her fear.
Not for herself.
For Mateo.
For what might happen next.
Rafael demanded:
“Now the ledger.”
Vincent tossed it onto the platform.
Rafael picked it up.
Marcus moved toward Camille.
Then Anthony drew his gun.
Not at Vincent.
At Rafael.
Everyone froze.
“I’m done.”
Rafael stared.
Anthony’s hand shook.
“You?”
Anthony laughed bitterly.
“You told me Vincent would destroy the family.”
“He has.”
“No.”
Anthony looked toward Adeline.
“He’s the only one who might save what’s left.”
Rafael fired.
Anthony fell.
Chaos erupted.
Federal team moved.
Marcus grabbed Camille.
Mateo charged.
Vincent drew.
Shots echoed.
Rafael disappeared toward the upper catwalk.
Marcus and Mateo crashed into a railing.
Camille dropped.
Vincent ran to her.
“You hit?”
“No.”
“Stay down.”
She grabbed him.
“Mateo.”
Vincent looked.
Marcus had a knife.
Mateo was unarmed.
Vincent fired once.
Into the floor beside Marcus.
“Drop it.”
Marcus froze.
Federal agents surrounded him.
Mateo stumbled back.
Alive.
Rafael escaped through a rear conveyor tunnel.
Again.
But Camille and Adeline were safe.
May you like
For Vincent, that mattered first.
That realization terrified him.
