Chapter 6
I returned before dawn.
Nobody knew I had left except three men I trusted.
Gabriel was waiting in the main hall.
Too convenient.
“Where were you?”
I removed my gloves.
“Driving.”
“At four in the morning?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“Couldn't sleep?”
“No.”
Neither could he now.
I walked past him.
“Bring Veronica downstairs.”
His expression shifted.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“And Preston?”
“Later.”
He nodded.
Then reached for his phone.
I looked at him.
“Who are you calling?”
His hand stopped.
“House captain.”
“He's standing behind you.”
Gabriel turned.
My captain stared back.
For the first time in twenty-six years, Gabriel Rizzo looked uncertain around me.
Good.
I smiled.
“Go get her yourself.”
He left.
My captain stepped closer.
“Take him?”
“Not yet.”
“You're enjoying this.”
“No.”
I looked toward the staircase.
“I want the entire chain.”
Veronica arrived ten minutes later.
No jewelry.
No shoes.
Still somehow arrogant.
Gabriel stood behind her.
She looked at me.
“Finished humiliating me?”
“Not close.”
She crossed her arms.
“What do you want?”
“I spoke to Voss.”
Gabriel's face gave me exactly what I expected.
Veronica's didn't.
Impressive.
She smiled.
“And?”
“He sends his regards.”
Nothing.
“He also says you're terrible at drawing serpents.”
Her smile disappeared.
There.
I sat.
“Why Sofia?”
Silence.
“Not why Audrey.”
Still nothing.
“Why my daughter?”
Veronica stared at me.
“You already decided what you believe.”
“No.”
I leaned back.
“I decided what I know.”
Gabriel shifted.
I looked at him.
“Stay.”
He stopped.
Veronica's eyes moved toward him.
Tiny.
Automatic.
They were connected.
But I already knew that.
What I needed was direction.
Who gave orders to whom?
I looked at Gabriel.
“Preston says Veronica planned everything.”
He didn't.
That was the lie.
Gabriel immediately looked at Veronica.
She turned toward him.
“What?”
I smiled.
Thank you.
Gabriel realized too late.
Veronica's face hardened.
“You're playing games.”
“No.”
I stood.
“You are.”
I walked toward Gabriel.
“Voss says you joined Preston.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“Voss lies.”
“Probably.”
I moved closer.
“But you called a burner five minutes after I told you I was sending men east.”
Silence.
“You gave someone my false deployment.”
He looked toward the guards.
That was the end.
Two men grabbed him.
Gabriel struggled once.
Stopped.
Veronica remained perfectly still.
“Why?” I asked him.
Twenty-six years.
That deserved one question.
He looked at me.
“Because you changed.”
“When?”
“When Sofia was born.”
My chest tightened.
“You got soft.”
I almost laughed.
“You betrayed me because I love my daughter?”
“You stopped thinking like your father.”
“My father died alone.”
Gabriel said nothing.
“I considered that an improvement.”
His face twisted.
“You started sparing men.”
“Useful men.”
“You negotiated with Voss.”
“Yes.”
“You let people think they could refuse you.”
“Some can.”
“You weakened the name.”
There it was.
Not money.
Not blackmail.
Faith.
The most dangerous kind of betrayal.
Gabriel truly believed he was saving the thing he betrayed.
“And Veronica?”
He looked at her.
She looked back.
No affection.
No loyalty.
Nothing.
Gabriel finally understood it too.
“You used me.”
Veronica smiled.
Only slightly.
I turned toward her.
“So you were above him.”
She said nothing.
“Above Preston too?”
Her eyes sharpened.
Then a guard entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We caught a man in the maid corridor.”
Audrey.
My body went cold.
“Alive?”
“The man is.”
“And Audrey?”
“Safe.”
I exhaled once.
“Who sent him?”
The guard looked at Veronica.
“He won't say.”
A voice came from behind us.
Audrey.
Wrapped in a robe.
Two guards beside her.
“He doesn't have to.”
May you like
She looked directly at Veronica.
“I heard her give the order.”
