Chapter 7 - Roman Vescari's Last Secret
Roman disappeared for six hours.
Mave didn't chase him.
When he returned, dawn was breaking over the lake.
He found her sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee.
“I thought Alessandro was dead,” he said.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Mave pushed another cup toward him.
Roman sat.
“He was my younger brother. Brilliant. Reckless. He wanted everything quickly.”
“What happened?”
“I sent him to Europe after discovering he'd used my company to launder money for people I refused to work with.”
“Franklin?”
“I didn't know.”
Roman stared at his hands.
“Two years later, I was told Alessandro died in a boating accident.”
Mave understood.
“You never saw his body.”
“No.”
They found Alessandro by lunchtime.
Alive.
Living under another name in Switzerland.
Federal authorities began coordinating quietly.
But Mave had another problem.
Brandon had vanished.
His apartment was empty.
His accounts had stopped moving.
Gemma hadn't heard from him.
Franklin publicly claimed his son was taking time away because of “emotional harassment.”
Mave knew better.
At 9:17 that night, Brandon called.
“Mave.”
“You keep choosing dramatic times.”
He almost laughed.
Then she heard fear.
“I need help.”
“Call the police.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because my father owns one of them.”
Mave looked at Roman, who was tracing the call.
“Where are you?”
Brandon gave an address.
Roman shook his head.
Trap.
Mave understood.
“Why should I come?”
“Because I have Raymond Pike.”
Everyone froze.
Brandon continued.
“He isn't missing. My father has kept him hidden.”
“Why?”
“Because Pike kept copies.”
“Of what?”
“The payment. The instructions. Everything.”
Mave's pulse raced.
“Put him on.”
A weak male voice came through.
“Ms. Callahan?”
“Yes.”
“I knew your dad.”
Her eyes filled.
“I changed the brake line.”
Silence filled the room.
Mave couldn't breathe.
Pike began crying.
“I was told nobody would die. They said they wanted to scare him. Afterward Franklin paid me to disappear.”
Mave pressed her fist against her mouth.
Brandon returned.
“My father is moving him tonight.”
“Why are you helping?”
“Because Gemma almost died.”
There it was.
Not redemption.
Consequence.
Brandon had finally discovered a line he couldn't cross after someone he loved nearly paid the price.
“Where?”
He gave another location.
Roman's team verified it.
An abandoned private aircraft hangar outside the city.
Lena called federal agents.
Mave wasn't allowed near it.
She hated that.
Roman stayed with her.
“You could go,” she said.
“So could you.”
“Apparently the adults said no.”
“Then we can be irresponsible together from a safe distance.”
She smiled despite herself.
Hours passed.
Finally Lena called.
Raymond Pike was alive.
Brandon had surrendered voluntarily.
Franklin escaped.
The victory lasted six minutes.
Then Roman's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
Mave stood.
Roman ended the call.
“Gemma's gone.”
Someone had taken her from the hospital.
Security footage showed Franklin Hale walking her through a service exit.
Gemma wasn't struggling.
He'd told her something that made her go willingly.
Mave knew immediately.
“The baby.”
Roman nodded.
“He threatened the baby.”
They found a message on Gemma's phone.
Bring the original ledger to Callahan Bridal at midnight. Come alone or Gemma Roads disappears before her child is born.
Mave stared at it.
“My building is condemned.”
“Which means no witnesses.”
“He wants the ledger.”
“He wants you.”
Mave looked at Roman.
“Then he'll get me.”
“No.”
“Roman—”
“No.”
“You can't protect me forever.”
“I don't intend to.”
The words hurt unexpectedly.
Then he stepped closer.
“I intend to help you become impossible to threaten.”
Her heart stumbled.
Roman lifted a hand as though he might touch her face.
He stopped himself.
Mave closed the distance instead.
She kissed him.
It wasn't elegant.
It wasn't planned.
It wasn't revenge.
Roman remained frozen for half a heartbeat.
Then his hand settled carefully against her cheek.
He kissed her back once.
Slowly.
Then pulled away.
“You almost married another man a week ago.”
“I remember.”
“You're hurt.”
“I know.”
“I won't become something you use to survive him.”
Mave stared at him.
It might have been the most respectful rejection she'd ever received.
“That's irritatingly decent.”
“I have occasional failures of character.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“We're getting Gemma back.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Roman looked at the message.
“We give Franklin exactly what he requested.”
At 11:58, Mave entered the burned shell of Callahan Bridal.
Alone.
At least, she appeared alone.
The ledger was under her arm.
Franklin stood beneath the ruined staircase.
Gemma sat in a chair nearby.
Alive.
Her hands were bound.
“Mave,” she whispered.
Franklin smiled.
“You look like Patrick.”
Mave's fear transformed into anger.
“You don't.”
His smile vanished.
“Ledger.”
“Gemma first.”
“Not how this works.”
“It is tonight.”
Franklin drew a gun.
Mave's heart hammered.
“You're just like your father. Always mistaking stubbornness for strength.”
“And you're still trying to steal from Callahans.”
“Your father cost me millions.”
“So you killed him.”
Franklin's eyes narrowed.
Mave prayed the microphone beneath her jacket was working.
“You think that ledger proves anything?”
“It proves enough.”
“It proves payments.”
“To Raymond Pike.”
Franklin laughed.
“That idiot.”
Gemma closed her eyes.
Mave pushed.
“He told investigators everything.”
For the first time, Franklin looked frightened.
“You're lying.”
“Brandon brought him in.”
That broke him.
“My son is weak.”
“Your son is terrified of you.”
“I built everything for him!”
“No. You built it for yourself.”
Franklin raised the gun.
“Give me the ledger.”
Mave held it out.
He approached.
Then Gemma moved.
She kicked the chair sideways into Franklin's legs.
The gun fired.
Mave dropped.
Roman burst through the rear entrance with federal agents.
Franklin was tackled before he could fire again.
Mave crawled toward Gemma.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
They looked at each other.
Then, absurdly, both started laughing.
Maybe it was shock.
Maybe survival.
Gemma began crying.
Mave cut the restraints.
Behind them, Franklin Hale screamed as agents dragged him through the ruins of the building he'd ordered burned.
Roman crossed toward Mave.
“You were supposed to move left.”
“I panicked.”
“You moved right.”
“I know directions, Roman.”
“Apparently not under gunfire.”
She stood.
“Is this really when we're discussing this?”
“Yes.”
Mave looked at him.
Then kissed him again.
This time Roman didn't stop her.
May you like
And somewhere behind them, Gemma said weakly:
“Oh, come on.”
