Chapter 5 - The Truth and the Lie
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Norah stared at the mafia boss, her breathing shallow and ragged.
"I wasn't signaling anyone," she said, her voice shaking but surprisingly clear. "I saw the red dot on your temple. I knew I couldn't push you fast enough because of your weight. The only way to move you was to hit you."
Carmine slammed his hand against the wall. "She's lying, Boss! She's a plant. The Falcone family probably paid her to get close and hold you in place!"
"Carmine," Daniel said, not raising his voice, but the sudden, lethal drop in temperature silenced the room. "Leave us."
Carmine hesitated, clearly unhappy, but he didn't argue. He shot Norah one last murderous glare before stepping out and closing the heavy metal door.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, wincing slightly as his bruised jaw shifted. He picked up the ice pack and pressed it against his face.
"You hit me very hard," Daniel noted, almost conversationally.
"I'm sorry," Norah whispered, tears finally springing to her eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you. I just wanted to move you."
"Show me your hands," he ordered.
"They're tied," she said softly.
Daniel stood up. He walked around the table and stood behind her. She flinched, bracing for a blow, but instead, she felt the cold steel of a knife slip between her wrists. With a quick, sharp motion, he cut the plastic zip ties.
The sudden rush of blood back into her hands was agonizing. Norah gasped, bringing her hands into her lap. Her right hand was a swollen, misshapen mess of purple and black, the knuckles split open and bleeding slightly.
Daniel walked back around the table and sat down. He stared at her ruined hand.
"A professional hitman would not have broken their own hand to save a target," Daniel observed clinically. "And a plant from the Falcone family would not be shaking this badly. You are exactly what you appear to be. A terrified maid who made a split-second decision."
Norah let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. "So, you believe me?"
"I believe that you saved my life," Daniel said, his dark eyes meeting hers. "But that creates a very significant problem for both of us, Norah."
"Why?"
"Because the people who hired that sniper believe I am dead," Daniel explained calmly. "And when they find out I am not, they will want to know exactly how I survived. Which means they will come looking for the person who ruined their perfect shot."
Norah's blood turned to ice. "But... I don't know anything. I just clean the floors."
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"You intervened in a syndicate war," Daniel stated bluntly. "In their eyes, you chose a side. If I let you walk out of this basement tonight, you will be dead before morning."
Norah stared at him, the horrifying reality settling heavily on her chest. She had punched a mafia boss to save his life, and in doing so, she had signed her own death warrant.
