Chapter 6 - THE PRICE OF GETTING HER BACK
Caprice screamed for her mother.
Diamond had never heard her scream before.
The sound changed something in him.
Smoke filled the eastern corridor as sprinklers erupted overhead.
Levi's men searched every room.
Evelyn was gone.
A nurse had been found unconscious beside the service elevator.
Security footage showed two men wearing paramedic uniforms pushing Evelyn out on a stretcher during the confusion.
Damian had taken her.
Caprice stood in the parking lot soaked from the sprinklers and rain.
"This is because of me."
"No."
"If I hadn't—"
Diamond caught her hand.
"Don't finish that sentence."
She looked down at him.
"I brought you here."
"Damian brought us here."
Her mouth trembled.
Diamond pulled her closer.
She resisted for half a second.
Then collapsed against him.
Her arms went around his shoulders.
Diamond froze.
He had imagined touching Caprice.
He had never imagined her clinging to him because she trusted him.
His hand moved carefully up her back.
"I'll get her back."
"You don't know that."
"Yes."
"How?"
Diamond looked toward Levi.
"Because Damian doesn't want your mother."
He wants me.
The message arrived twenty minutes later.
An abandoned Kelly textile mill.
Midnight.
Diamond alone.
Levi read it and swore.
"Absolutely not."
Diamond loaded a pistol.
"He wants me alive."
"He shot you once."
"If he wanted me dead, I'd be dead."
Caprice stood in the doorway.
"I'm coming."
Both men said, "No."
Caprice folded her arms.
"My mother."
Diamond looked at her.
"My brother."
"Then we're both going."
"No."
She approached.
"You think because you're the scary mafia boss, you get the final word?"
"Usually."
"Not tonight."
Despite everything, Levi almost smiled.
Diamond glared at him.
"Don't."
By 11:40, a plan existed.
Diamond would enter alone.
Levi's team would remain outside surveillance range.
Caprice would stay in the armored vehicle.
That was the agreement.
Caprice broke it within six minutes.
Diamond entered the mill.
Damian waited beneath a hanging industrial light.
Fifteen years had changed him.
His hair was silver at the temples.
A scar ran from his ear toward his collar.
But the eyes were unmistakably Kelly.
"Brother."
Diamond stopped.
"Where's Evelyn?"
Damian smiled.
"Not hello?"
"You lost that privilege when you put a bullet through my spine."
Damian walked closer.
"I didn't pull the trigger."
"You ordered it."
"Yes."
The admission was effortless.
"Why?"
Damian laughed.
"Still asking questions like Father might walk in and give you the answer."
Diamond's jaw tightened.
"He loved you."
"No. He found me useful."
"He gave you everything."
"He gave me his empire."
"And gave me nothing."
Damian's smile disappeared.
"You got his name. His respect. His chair."
Diamond looked at his wheelchair.
"Want it?"
Damian's face twitched.
Diamond continued.
"You wanted what I had so badly? Take it."
The words landed.
For fifteen years, Damian had imagined Diamond enjoying victory.
He had never considered that the throne had become a cage.
"You destroyed hundreds of lives over jealousy."
Damian stepped closer.
"I destroyed yours."
"No."
Diamond thought of Caprice.
"You tried."
A door opened behind Damian.
Two men brought Evelyn forward.
She was frightened but unharmed.
Diamond exhaled.
"Let her go."
"Trade."
"Me."
"Not exactly."
Damian smiled.
"Your organization."
Diamond understood.
Damian wanted him to sign control away.
A folder lay on the table.
Diamond rolled toward it.
Then Caprice's voice echoed from above.
"Don't."
Diamond closed his eyes.
Of course.
Caprice stood on the metal catwalk.
Damian laughed.
"The maid."
"Let my mother go."
"Caprice, leave."
"No."
Damian looked delighted.
"I finally understand."
He drew a pistol.
Diamond's entire body tightened.
"Damian."
His brother aimed at Caprice.
"You survived losing your legs."
His finger moved against the trigger.
"Let's see how you survive losing her."
The gun fired.
Diamond shouted her name.
May you like
Caprice fell.
And for one unbearable second, Diamond Kelly believed the only person who had made him smile again was dead.
