Chapter 8 - The Empire Burns
Vincent Romano underestimated paperwork.
That became his fatal mistake.
For thirty years, he had survived bullets, informants, betrayals, and federal investigations.
He had never encountered Sarah Collins with three forensic accountants and unlimited access to Collins Atlantic’s shipping records.
Within seventy-two hours, they found seventeen shell corporations connected to Romano.
Within five days, they found payments to Arthur Harrington.
Within a week, they uncovered the company that posted Victoria’s bail.
But the largest discovery involved Gabriel.
Sarah entered his office holding a file.
“We need to talk.”
Gabriel looked up.
“I dislike that sentence.”
“You own twelve percent of Collins Atlantic.”
He stood.
“What?”
“Technically Moretti Holdings does.”
“That is impossible.”
“Nathaniel gave your father shares.”
Gabriel read the documents.
The stake was worth hundreds of millions.
But attached to it was a handwritten provision.
The shares transferred permanently only if the Moretti family protected Nathaniel’s heir.
Sarah laughed softly.
“Apparently our fathers planned our lives before we met.”
Gabriel did not laugh.
“I don’t want it.”
“What?”
“The shares.”
“They belong to you.”
“They were conditional.”
“You protected me.”
“That does not mean I should be paid for it.”
Sarah studied him.
The man she had first seen surrounded by fear was slowly disappearing.
Not becoming harmless.
Gabriel Moretti would never be harmless.
But he was becoming deliberate about what kind of power he wanted.
“Keep them,” Sarah said.
“No.”
“Then put them somewhere useful.”
That became the beginning of the Collins-Moretti Foundation.
Its first purpose was simple: medical support for families who could not afford long-term care.
Rebecca cried when Sarah told her.
Gabriel pretended not to notice.
Their victory seemed close.
That was when Romano attacked.
Not with guns.
With fire.
At 2:13 a.m., flames erupted inside a Collins Atlantic warehouse in Brooklyn containing decades of archived financial records.
Sarah arrived behind emergency vehicles.
Gabriel was already there.
“Why are you here?”
“My father’s original ledgers are inside.”
“Copies?”
“Some.”
Sarah looked toward the burning building.
“We need them.”
“No.”
“Gabriel—”
“No document is worth dying for.”
Then Marco shouted.
“Someone’s inside!”
A night security guard had not checked out.
Sarah moved automatically.
Gabriel caught her.
“You are not going inside.”
“I’m medically trained.”
“You’re a nursing student.”
“Exactly.”
Before they could argue, firefighters entered.
Minutes later, they brought the guard out unconscious.
Sarah rushed forward with paramedics.
She helped stabilize him while Gabriel watched.
There was soot across her face.
Her hair was tied carelessly behind her head.
She was completely focused.
Gabriel had attended galas filled with women dressed in diamonds.
He had never seen anyone more beautiful.
Then a second explosion tore through the warehouse.
Gabriel threw himself over Sarah.
Glass rained around them.
When the noise stopped, she opened her eyes beneath him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“You?”
“No.”
Sarah touched his cheek.
“You keep doing that.”
“What?”
“Putting yourself between me and things that explode.”
“It is becoming inconvenient.”
She laughed despite everything.
Then Gabriel noticed movement on a rooftop across the street.
A figure.
Watching.
Romano.
By the time police reached the building, he was gone.
But he left a message.
A package waited outside Gabriel’s penthouse.
Inside was Victoria’s engagement ring.
And a note.
NEXT TIME, SHE BURNS WITH IT.
Gabriel’s restraint snapped.
“I’m ending this.”
Sarah knew what he meant.
“No.”
“He threatened you.”
“So?”
“So he dies.”
The room became silent.
Sarah looked at Marco, then back at Gabriel.
“If you kill him, everything you’ve changed means nothing.”
“He will not stop.”
“Then put him somewhere he cannot reach us.”
Gabriel paced.
“You think prison stops men like Romano?”
“No.”
Sarah stepped into his path.
“But I think becoming him destroys you.”
Gabriel stopped.
Her voice softened.
“I don’t want the man everyone says you are.”
His eyes darkened.
“Then what do you want?”
“The man who knelt beside a waitress when everyone expected him to punish her.”
Silence.
“That man.”
Gabriel touched her cheek.
“You make this very difficult.”
“Good.”
He kissed her forehead.
“All right.”
They gave everything to the federal task force.
But Romano had anticipated them.
The next afternoon Sarah left NYU surrounded by security.
Her phone rang.
Victoria.
Sarah answered.
“What?”
Victoria was crying.
“Sarah, please listen.”
Sarah stopped.
“What happened?”
“He’s going to kill me.”
“Who?”
“Romano.”
Sarah’s anger remained.
“Call the police.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I know where he keeps the original Harrington ledgers.”
Sarah went still.
Those records could prove everything.
Victoria whispered an address.
“Come alone.”
Sarah almost laughed.
“Do you genuinely think I’m that stupid?”
“No.”
Victoria began sobbing.
“That’s why I know Gabriel is already tracing this call.”
Sarah looked toward her security guard.
Gabriel had indeed received the alert.
Victoria’s final words were barely audible.
“Tell Gabriel I was wrong.”
May you like
A man’s voice sounded behind her.
Then the call ended.
