Chapter 4 - The Secretary’s Trap
Sophia wanted Richard Vale arrested.
Alexander wanted proof.
“That audit log is proof.”
“It proves Richard accessed a calendar.”
“The same calendar somebody altered before your brother was murdered.”
Alexander stood behind his desk.
“And if I accuse him now, he disappears.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“That we let him believe we know nothing.”
Sophia stared.
“You want me to go back to work.”
“No.”
“You just said—”
“You are staying here.”
“Alexander.”
“No.”
“Then your plan is terrible.”
His eyes narrowed.
Sophia continued.
“Richard accessed my schedule because he needed information. If I suddenly vanish while you quietly investigate him, he knows we’re suspicious.”
“I am not using you as bait.”
“I didn’t ask permission.”
“You are my secretary.”
“And you’re my employer, not my owner.”
His expression darkened.
“Do not use that argument when someone has already tried to kill you.”
“Then give me a better one.”
For several seconds they stared at each other.
Dominic, standing near the door, rubbed his forehead.
“I miss when you two were pretending not to be in love.”
Both turned.
“Dominic.”
“I’ll leave.”
He did.
Sophia slowly looked back at Alexander.
“In love?”
“Dominic has suffered several head injuries.”
“Interesting.”
“Sophia.”
“Very interesting.”
“This is not funny.”
“No. But watching you become uncomfortable is.”
Alexander came around the desk.
“Sophia Bennett, you are the most impossible woman I have ever met.”
“And yet you hired me.”
“You insulted my clock.”
“It was wrong.”
He stopped inches away.
The anger between them changed into something else.
Neither moved.
Sophia could smell his cologne.
Alexander’s gaze dropped briefly to her mouth.
Then the office door opened.
Richard Vale entered.
“Am I interrupting?”
They separated instantly.
Richard smiled.
He was sixty, silver-haired, elegant, with the harmless appearance of a university professor.
Sophia had known him four years.
He had sent flowers when her mother underwent surgery.
He remembered her birthday.
He had hugged Alexander at Matteo’s funeral.
Now Sophia wondered whether he had arranged the coffin.
“Richard,” Alexander said.
“I heard about last night.”
His concern appeared genuine.
He looked at Sophia.
“Are you all right?”
“Shaken.”
“I’m sorry.”
He touched her shoulder.
Alexander’s eyes followed the hand.
Sophia forced herself not to move.
Richard continued.
“You should take a few days off.”
“That’s what Alexander said.”
“Good advice.”
“I refused.”
Richard smiled.
“Of course you did.”
Then he looked at Alexander.
“We need to discuss the Milwaukee accounts.”
“Later.”
Richard nodded.
At the doorway he paused.
“Sophia?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful who you trust.”
He left.
Neither Sophia nor Alexander spoke until the elevator closed.
Then Sophia whispered, “That was either concern or a threat.”
Alexander’s expression was stone.
“We find out which.”
The trap was simple.
Sophia created a false appointment in Alexander’s private calendar.
Saturday, 9:00 p.m.
A supposed meeting with Elena Rossi at an abandoned Moretti warehouse near the river.
Only three people could see it.
Alexander.
Sophia.
Richard.
Then they waited.
Saturday night brought freezing rain.
Alexander hated every second of the plan.
Sophia sat beside him inside an armored SUV parked two blocks from the warehouse.
“You can still stay here,” he said.
“No.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Optimism.”
She smiled faintly.
Security teams surrounded the property.
At 8:53, a black Mercedes entered the warehouse district.
Dominic’s voice came through Alexander’s earpiece.
“Vehicle approaching.”
Alexander’s hand moved toward Sophia.
Not quite touching.
At 8:57, the Mercedes stopped.
A man stepped out.
Not Richard.
Sophia recognized him anyway.
Peter Vale.
Richard’s thirty-year-old son.
Alexander cursed softly.
Peter entered the warehouse carrying a gun.
Dominic’s men surrounded him within seconds.
He did not resist.
Inside the warehouse, Alexander confronted him.
“Where’s your father?”
Peter laughed.
“You still think this is about him?”
Alexander grabbed his coat.
“Answer me.”
“Dad tried to stop it.”
“Stop what?”
Peter looked at Sophia.
“That.”
Alexander stepped between them.
Peter smiled.
“You really do love her.”
“Careful.”
“Matteo loved someone too. Look how that ended.”
Alexander hit him.
One punch.
Peter crashed against a crate.
Sophia grabbed Alexander’s arm.
“Stop.”
He did.
Immediately.
Peter wiped blood from his mouth.
Then laughed.
“That’s new.”
“What?”
“Alexander Moretti listening to somebody.”
Sophia crouched several feet away.
“Who sent you?”
Peter looked at her.
“My father told me to get here before they did.”
“They?”
Before Peter could answer, gunfire exploded outside.
Alexander pulled Sophia behind a concrete pillar.
Dominic shouted.
Men poured into the warehouse from the rear entrance.
Not Richard’s men.
Alexander’s security returned fire.
Sophia stayed low while Alexander shielded her.
Then Peter shouted.
“Down!”
He tackled Dominic as a bullet shattered the crate behind them.
Alexander fired toward the catwalk.
The attacker fell.
Seconds stretched.
Then silence.
Dominic checked Peter.
Alive.
Barely.
A bullet had struck his shoulder.
As paramedics arrived, Peter grabbed Sophia’s wrist.
“Listen.”
She leaned closer.
“My father isn’t the traitor.”
“Then who is?”
Peter struggled to breathe.
“He changed the calendar.”
“We know.”
“To save Alexander.”
Sophia froze.
“What?”
“He discovered the ambush. He removed Alexander from the meeting but couldn’t convince Matteo not to go.”
“Why didn’t he tell Alexander?”
“Because the real traitor threatened my mother.”
Sophia looked toward Alexander.
“Who?”
Peter swallowed.
Then whispered a name.
“Dominic.”
Sophia went completely still.
May you like
Across the warehouse, Dominic Russo was speaking into his phone.
And looking directly at her.
