Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO WASN'T A GAMBLER
Tessa refused to believe the photograph.
“My brother would never work for them.”
Victor didn't correct her.
Instead, he placed another photograph on the desk.
Liam was younger in it.
Maybe twenty-two.
He stood beside a shipping container.
Behind him was a man Tessa recognized.
Her father.
She stared at the image.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
Victor nodded.
“I know.”
“What is he doing there?”
“I don't know yet.”
Tessa's breathing became shallow.
Victor noticed.
“Sit.”
“I don't want to sit.”
“You're shaking.”
“I said I don't want to sit.”
Victor stopped.
Then, surprisingly, he stepped back.
“All right.”
That small gesture unsettled her more than an order would have.
She looked at the photograph again.
“My father was a truck driver.”
“According to public records.”
“And?”
Victor's voice was quiet.
“According to mine, he was involved in organized cargo theft.”
Tessa shook her head.
“No.”
“I don't expect you to believe me.”
“My mother never mentioned this.”
“Maybe she didn't know.”
“She knew everything about him.”
Victor said nothing.
Tessa looked at him.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because someone is using your family history to reach me.”
“Through Liam?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is Liam alive?”
“Because he knows where something is.”
“What?”
Victor's phone rang.
He answered.
Paulie's voice came through.
“We found the location.”
Victor grabbed his coat.
Tessa immediately followed.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“That's my brother.”
“Exactly.”
“I don't care.”
Victor stared at her.
Then he sighed.
“Stay behind me.”
They left through the underground garage.
For the first time, Tessa saw the side of Victor that newspapers never described.
He was not reckless.
He was methodical.
Every movement had purpose.
Every decision had a reason.
They reached an abandoned warehouse near the harbor.
Paulie and three men were already positioned outside.
Victor turned to Tessa.
“You stay in the vehicle.”
“No.”
“Tessa.”
“I've spent my whole life watching men make decisions about my family while telling me it's for my protection.”
She opened the car door.
“I'm done.”
Victor stared at her for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
“Stay close.”
Inside the warehouse, they found Liam.
Alive.
Bruised.
Terrified.
“Tessa!”
She ran toward him.
Victor caught her arm.
“Wait.”
A tripwire crossed the floor.
Liam shouted.
“Don't move!”
Victor crouched.
He examined the wire.
“It's not explosive.”
Paulie checked it.
“Alarm.”
Victor looked toward the shadows.
“Then they know we're here.”
Lights exploded on.
A dozen armed men appeared along the catwalks.
The leader stepped forward.
Tessa recognized him.
Mr. Bell.
“Victor.”
Victor's expression became cold.
“You should have run.”
Bell smiled.
“I don't run from men whose empire is already collapsing.”
He held up a folder.
“You want Liam?”
Victor said nothing.
“Then give me the ledger.”
Tessa looked at Victor.
“What ledger?”
Victor's eyes remained on Bell.
Bell laughed.
“She doesn't know.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“What ledger?”
Bell opened the folder.
Inside was an old photograph.
Victor recognized the man standing beside his father.
His own uncle.
The family patriarch who had died eight years earlier.
Bell said:
“Your father kept records of every illegal shipment the Romano family ever moved.”
Victor stared.
“And your uncle stole them.”
“Correct.”
“And Liam knows where they are?”
Bell nodded.
Tessa whispered, “How?”
Bell looked at her.
“Because your father hid them.”
Victor suddenly understood.
Tessa's father hadn't been a truck driver.
He had been the final courier.
He had disappeared because someone was hunting him.
And Liam had inherited the secret without even knowing it.
Bell smiled.
“The ledger is worth more than your entire empire.”
Victor stepped forward.
“You made one mistake.”
Bell's smile faded.
“What?”
“You brought my enemy into my house.”
Victor glanced at Tessa.
Then back at Bell.
“And you made her part of this.”
The lights went out.
A gunshot cracked through the warehouse.
Tessa screamed.
Victor grabbed her and pulled her behind a concrete pillar.
Another shot.
Then another.
When the lights returned, Bell was gone.
But Liam was still there.
And beside him lay a small metal key.
Victor picked it up.
May you like
Engraved on the key were two words.
MERCER VAULT.
