Chapter 6 - THE BROTHER WHO SOLD THEM OUT
Frank Bellucci's estate stood behind iron gates in Westchester.
Anthony arrived with Caleb and two security men.
He had not visited his brother in three months.
The brothers had never been particularly close.
Frank was six years older, charming when necessary, ruthless when convenient, and convinced that Anthony had inherited the better part of their father's intelligence.
Anthony had inherited the business.
Frank had inherited the resentment.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, a television played silently.
A half-finished glass of whiskey sat on the coffee table.
“Frank?”
No answer.
Anthony moved toward the study.
He found his brother standing beside the fireplace.
Frank looked older than he had the previous month.
His hair was uncombed.
His shirt was wrinkled.
And his right hand was shaking.
“You came.”
“Start talking.”
Frank looked at Caleb.
“Alone.”
Anthony nodded.
Caleb remained outside.
Frank poured himself a drink.
“Do you remember the warehouse fire in Brooklyn?”
“Of course.”
“Michael Mallory discovered the diverted shipments.”
“I know.”
“No, Tony. You don't.”
Frank took a long breath.
“Your company was being used to move illegal cargo. I knew about it.”
Anthony's expression turned cold.
“You knew?”
“I thought it was temporary.”
“You allowed people to be trafficked through my businesses?”
“I didn't know that part!”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Frank slammed the glass down.
“Raymond promised me a partnership. He said we could control everything without you interfering.”
Anthony stared at him.
There it was.
The truth.
His own brother had sold him.
“What happened to Michael?”
Frank looked away.
“Victor arranged the fire.”
“And Catherine?”
Frank swallowed.
“She found the records.”
“Did you know she was sick?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know she was being threatened?”
“Yes.”
Anthony stepped closer.
“You let my wife die believing she had to protect me from you?”
Frank began crying.
“I didn't want her dead.”
“Then why didn't you stop it?”
“Because Raymond said if she spoke, he'd destroy the entire family.”
Anthony stared at him.
“Catherine was my family.”
Frank's face crumpled.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Frank reached into his jacket and produced a small memory card.
“Catherine gave this to me before she died.”
Anthony took it.
“Why?”
“She said if anything happened to her, you would eventually come looking.”
“What is on it?”
Frank shook his head.
“Everything.”
Anthony turned toward the door.
Frank grabbed his arm.
“Tony, wait.”
Anthony looked down at the hand.
Frank released him.
“There's one more thing.”
“What?”
“Raymond didn't start this operation.”
Anthony frowned.
“He was working for someone else.”
“Who?”
Frank's lips trembled.
“Someone you would never suspect.”
Before he could continue, a gunshot shattered the window.
Frank fell.
Anthony dropped beside him.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Frank!”
The older man struggled to breathe.
“Don't trust…”
His eyes moved toward the hallway.
Then he whispered a name.
“Caleb.”
Anthony froze.
A second shot struck the fireplace.
Caleb burst through the door with his weapon raised.
“Tony! We have to move!”
Anthony looked at his lieutenant.
The man who had stood beside him for twenty years.
The man who knew every secret.
The man who had just been named by his dying brother.
“Get away from me,” Anthony said.
Caleb stopped.
“Tony, listen—”
“Put the gun down.”
“Your brother is lying.”
Anthony looked at Frank.
His brother was no longer moving.
Caleb's eyes hardened.
And in that instant, Anthony understood something terrifying.
May you like
He no longer knew which men in his life were loyal.
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