Chapter 7
The recording continued.
Ryan’s voice:
“What if Emily tries to leave?”
Linda:
“She won’t.”
“How do you know?”
A laugh.
“Because mothers tolerate anything when you threaten their children.”
Emily covered her mouth.
I felt something old and violent move through me.
Not military.
Not Mafia.
Father.
Marcus looked uncomfortable now.
Good.
Ryan stared at Linda.
“You never told me that.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You were busy feeling sorry for yourself.”
“I was supposed to run Bennett operations.”
Linda laughed.
Actually laughed.
“You?”
Ryan’s face collapsed.
She continued.
“You can barely control one pregnant woman.”
Emily flinched.
I watched Ryan.
Humiliation.
The same tool he had used on her.
Now coming from his mother.
He looked at me.
For half a second, almost human.
Then he ruined it.
“This is Emily’s fault.”
I stared.
“If she had just listened—”
There it was.
No lesson learned.
“—none of this would have escalated.”
Emily whispered:
“You bruised me.”
“You pushed me.”
“I tried to protect the baby.”
“You made me angry.”
Linda nodded.
“Exactly.”
I almost couldn’t believe them.
Two people constructing morality around their own violence.
Marcus interrupted:
“Can we discuss the part where Vale expects me back?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
His smile faded.
“You think you can hold me?”
“I think Vale sent you into an apartment carrying a receiver tied to a failed plot.”
His face changed.
I continued.
“He knows you’re expendable.”
“No.”
Linda laughed.
“Oh, he is.”
Marcus turned.
She smiled at him.
“Why do you think they sent a lieutenant instead of a capo?”
Now Marcus understood he had been used too.
Good.
Fear loosens tongues.
“What else does Vale have?”
He stayed silent.
I leaned closer.
“Your people are waiting for Thursday.”
Still nothing.
“Thursday no longer happens.”
His eyes narrowed.
I continued.
“So whatever value silence had expired when I walked through that doorway.”
Marcus looked toward Linda.
Then Ryan.
Finally Emily.
He exhaled.
“Vale has someone inside Bennett security.”
My captain stiffened.
“How high?”
Marcus smiled bitterly.
“High enough to know you bought that teddy bear before you reached the apartment.”
May you like
The tracker had not been planted by Linda.
Someone in my own organization had prepared the gift before I ever arrived.
