Chapter 5
Marcus denied it.
Of course he did.
“You've got one frightened old guard and a broken tape.”
I looked at him.
“You changed the north-gate rotation.”
“Yes.”
“You brought two men onto my property.”
“No.”
“Owen saw them.”
“Owen sees whatever keeps him breathing.”
Owen stood.
Marcus smiled.
“There he is.”
I raised one hand.
Owen stopped.
Celeste crossed her arms.
“This is exactly why Elena couldn't live with you.”
I looked at her.
“She couldn't handle what your family was.”
My jaw tightened.
Celeste saw it and leaned in.
“She was always scared.”
“She wasn't.”
“She was weak.”
“Stop.”
“And Lily's exactly the same.”
The room went still.
Celeste smiled.
“One cold patio and suddenly she's sobbing like the world's ending.”
I stepped closer.
“You locked my daughter outside.”
“She needed to learn.”
“Learn what?”
“That crying doesn't make people obey you.”
I almost laughed.
The hypocrisy was impressive.
“You panicked because she had a recorder.”
Her face hardened.
“That has nothing to do with discipline.”
“No.”
I looked at Marcus.
“It has to do with murder.”
Marcus lunged verbally before physically.
“You think I wanted you dead?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You tell me.”
He smiled.
“Because you had what I wanted?”
“Did I?”
He said nothing.
I continued.
“My seat?”
Nothing.
“My territory?”
Still nothing.
Then Owen spoke.
“He wanted the docks.”
Marcus turned.
Owen kept going.
“He talked about them for months.”
Marcus's face darkened.
“The docks were under your command,” I said.
“Not control.”
There.
A slip.
I waited.
Marcus realized too late.
“You wanted more.”
He looked away.
Celeste said:
“Everyone wants more.”
I looked at her.
“So did you?”
Her mouth tightened.
Owen stared at Celeste.
Then something clicked in his face.
“I know you.”
She froze.
“You were there.”
Marcus stood.
“Owen.”
“You were in the garage.”
Celeste went pale.
I turned.
“She was what?”
Owen pointed.
“She came through ten minutes after the men.”
Celeste laughed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I was at Elena's house that night.”
I stared.
“You told me you were.”
She stopped.
I remembered.
After Elena died, Celeste told me they had spent the evening together.
Talking.
Drinking tea.
She had comforted me with stories about Elena's final hours.
Stories that now sounded rehearsed.
Owen shook his head.
“You were at the garage.”
Celeste's voice turned vicious.
“You were a gate guard who couldn't even keep his own job. Don't flatter yourself into thinking anyone cares what you remember.”
Owen flinched.
I didn't.
“What did she do?”
He looked at me.
“She handed Marcus your keys.”
My chest went cold.
Marcus started toward him.
Three bodyguards moved.
He stopped.
I looked at Celeste.
“You gave him my keys.”
“No.”
“She did.”
“No.”
Then Owen finished.
“And she told him you always drove alone on Friday mornings.”
Celeste said nothing.
I thought the revelation would make me angry.
It didn't.
Not immediately.
It made everything quiet.
Very quiet.
I looked from her engagement ring to Marcus's capo pin.
Three years of trust.
Three years of letting Celeste comfort Lily.
Three years of Marcus standing at my side.
Then I asked:
“Was Elena's death an accident?”
Marcus stared at me.
Celeste looked at the floor.
That was answer enough.
But not the worst one.
Owen swallowed.
“Boss…”
I looked at him.
He hesitated.
“The night after the funeral…”
“What?”
“I saw them together.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
May you like
Owen looked at Celeste.
“She kissed him.”
