Chapter 7 - THE TRAITOR AT THE TABLE
Suspicion poisoned the mansion.
Lorenzo trusted Marcus with his life.
He trusted Giovanni because he was his father.
And he wanted to trust Nora.
Wanting was not proof.
Nora saw the doubt.
It hurt.
“You think I took it.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
“Nora—”
“I gave you the drive.”
“I know.”
“Then why are there guards outside my room?”
“Because somebody is trying to kill you.”
“Or because you think I'm somebody you need to watch?”
Lorenzo said nothing.
Wrong choice.
Nora turned away.
“Get out.”
“Nora.”
“Get out.”
He did.
Giovanni found her later.
Using his communication board, he spelled:
HE IS AFRAID.
Nora frowned.
“Of me?”
OF LOVING YOU.
Her face heated.
“John.”
Giovanni smiled.
“You're impossible.”
He tapped another letter.
KISS.
“No.”
HIM.
“Absolutely not.”
Giovanni looked delighted.
Nora laughed despite herself.
Then she noticed something.
His left hand.
Ink.
Blue ink.
The same color used on the labels inside Lorenzo’s safe.
“John?”
Giovanni looked down.
Nora’s heart accelerated.
“You took the drive.”
One blink.
“Why?”
He spelled slowly.
BAIT.
Giovanni had replaced the original himself.
He wanted the traitor to steal the copy.
Because the copy contained tracking software.
Marcus traced it.
The signal came from inside the estate.
The chapel.
They entered with weapons drawn.
Celeste stood there holding the drive.
Lorenzo looked devastated.
“Why?”
Celeste began crying.
“I had no choice.”
Marcus stared at his fiancée.
“What did you do?”
“My father owes Elias forty million dollars.”
The DeLuca family was collapsing financially.
Elias had threatened to destroy them.
Celeste had stolen the drive hoping to trade it for her father’s safety.
Marcus removed his engagement ring.
Celeste’s face broke.
But Giovanni suddenly struck his wheelchair arm.
Everyone looked at him.
He spelled:
NOT TRAITOR. FOLLOWED.
A gunshot shattered the chapel window.
Marcus tackled Celeste.
Lorenzo pushed Nora behind stone.
Security returned fire.
The shooter escaped through the woods.
Celeste hadn't betrayed them.
Elias had followed her.
She had secretly intended to give him the fake drive and lead authorities to the exchange.
Marcus stared at her.
“You could have told me.”
“And put you at risk?”
“That is what marriage is, Celeste. You don't protect me by deciding I don't get to stand beside you.”
Nora looked at Lorenzo.
The words landed on both of them.
That evening, Lorenzo entered Nora’s room.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes.”
He almost smiled.
“I should have trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“You're going to make this difficult.”
“Yes.”
This time he did smile.
Then Nora became serious.
“You don't get to protect me by shutting me out either.”
“I know.”
“I am not helpless because I'm pregnant.”
“I know.”
“And I'm not one of your employees anymore.”
That surprised him.
“What?”
“I quit.”
“Nora.”
“I mean it.”
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“Fine?”
“You’re fired.”
“You can't fire me after I quit.”
“I just did.”
“That makes no sense.”
“You no longer work for me.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
They stared at each other.
“Then what am I doing here?” she asked.
Lorenzo stepped closer.
“Staying.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you here.”
Her heartbeat changed.
“As what?”
He had no answer that wasn't dangerous.
Nora whispered, “Lorenzo?”
He kissed her.
Softly.
Not like a Mafia boss claiming something.
Like a man asking permission.
Nora froze.
Then kissed him back.
When they separated, both looked slightly stunned.
From the hallway came a mechanical tapping.
They turned.
Giovanni sat in his wheelchair.
Watching them.
He raised his thumb.
Nora covered her face.
“John!”
Lorenzo laughed.
For perhaps the first time in five years, Giovanni Moretti looked completely happy.
But their happiness lasted less than an hour.
Brody escaped custody.
And surveillance footage showed the person who helped him.
May you like
Dr. Samuel Hart.
The same doctor scheduled to determine Giovanni’s competency the following morning.
