Chapter 9: THE TRAP AT THE OLD WAREHOUSE

I stared at Rosa’s photograph for nearly a minute.

My hands went numb.

Marcus knew where she went to church.

He knew her schedule.

He knew she was important to Dante.

And now he was using her to force me out.

I wanted to tell Dante immediately.

But another message appeared.

NO POLICE. NO MORETTI. MIDNIGHT. WAREHOUSE 19.

I knew Warehouse 19.

It belonged to my father’s old trucking company.

Michael had worked there.

The same place where he had discovered the records that cost him his life.

I sat on the edge of my bed.

For seven months, I had survived by running.

But running hadn’t saved Michael.

It hadn’t protected Tony.

And now Rosa was being threatened.

I couldn’t keep letting other people pay for my freedom.

At 10:30 p.m., I wrote Dante a letter.

You gave me something nobody else ever did. A choice.

I’m sorry for the choice I’m making tonight.

Please protect Rosa.

I left the letter on the kitchen table.

Then I took Michael’s tool roll and walked out into the cold.

At 11:57 p.m., I reached Warehouse 19.

The building stood beside an abandoned loading yard.

Broken windows.

Rusted doors.

Old trucks covered in dust.

A single light burned above the entrance.

Marcus waited inside.

He wore a dark blue suit and the same smug smile I remembered from our engagement dinners.

“Elena.”

I stood still.

“Where’s Rosa?”

“Safe. For now.”

“Show me.”

He smiled.

“Still giving orders?”

I clenched my fists.

“She’s an innocent woman.”

“So were you once.”

I felt disgust rise in my throat.

Marcus approached.

“You know, I almost admired your little performance.”

I said nothing.

“A mechanic. A boy. Hiding under Moretti’s nose.”

He laughed.

“Your father was furious when he found out.”

“Leave my father out of this.”

“Why? He’s the reason you’re here.”

My stomach tightened.

Marcus pulled out a folder.

Inside were photographs of Michael.

His truck.

The accident scene.

And a copy of the original police report.

“You killed him,” I whispered.

Marcus’s smile faded.

“Your brother was a problem.”

“He was a good man.”

“He was a fool.”

I stepped forward.

“Say that again.”

Marcus looked amused.

“There’s the Russo temper.”

Then his expression hardened.

“Michael thought he could ruin me. He thought federal agents would protect him.”

My eyes burned.

“So you murdered him.”

Marcus tilted his head.

“Prove it.”

I stared at him.

He stepped closer.

“Your father understood how the world works. Michael didn’t.”

“You’re a monster.”

“No, Elena. I’m a businessman.”

He reached for my arm.

I stepped back.

“Don’t touch me.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Seven months, and you still haven’t learned.”

He moved closer.

Then a voice came from the darkness.

“Actually, Marcus, I think she’s learned quite a lot.”

Dante Moretti stepped into the light.

Behind him stood two federal agents.

And my father.

Marcus froze.

For the first time since I’d known him, his confidence disappeared.

Dante looked at me.

“Elena, are you all right?”

I nodded, trembling.

Marcus backed toward the loading doors.

“This is a setup.”

My father stepped forward.

“No, Marcus.”

His face looked twenty years older.

“This is the end.”