Chapter 2 - The Name He Remembered
Emily’s mother tightened her arms around her daughter.
“What did he say?”
Vincent stared at the stranger.
“Your husband’s first name.”
“Daniel.”
For the first time, Luca saw something close to fear cross Vincent’s face.
Sarah Reed noticed it too.
“You knew him.”
Vincent didn’t answer quickly enough.
She backed away.
“Emily. Bedroom.”
“But—”
“Now, sweetheart.”
Emily took the jar.
The coins shook because her hands did.
Sarah waited until the bedroom door closed.
Then she looked at Vincent.
“Tell me what you did to my husband.”
“He worked for me.”
“Doing what?”
“Books. Property accounts.”
“He told me he managed investments.”
“He did.”
“And then?”
Vincent glanced at Luca.
The older man’s jaw tightened.
Sarah stepped into Vincent’s line of sight.
“Look at me when you answer.”
“Eight years ago, money disappeared from an account Daniel controlled.”
“He didn’t steal.”
“I believed he did.”
“Did you call the police?”
The silence answered her.
Sarah pressed one hand against the table.
“What did you do?”
“I ordered my men to bring him in.”
“And?”
“I was told he left the city after we settled it.”
The stranger laughed again.
Vincent moved toward him.
“Who sent you?”
“Call your uncle.”
Luca’s grip shifted.
Vincent caught the movement.
“Carlo?”
The man closed his mouth.
Sarah grabbed her phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
Marco glanced at Vincent.
“Boss—”
“She calls,” Vincent said.
Sarah gave the dispatcher their address, mentioned the gun, then described every man in her kitchen.
Including Vincent.
He didn’t stop her.
When she ended the call, she pointed at the doorway.
“You stay where I can see you.”
A knock came from the bedroom.
“Mom?”
Sarah opened it a few inches.
Emily stood there with the jar.
“Did he hurt Daddy?”
Sarah crouched.
“I don’t know yet.”
Emily looked past her.
Vincent could have handled screaming.
The little girl’s stare was harder.
“Did you?”
“I made a terrible decision.”
“Can you fix it?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing honest came easily.
Sirens sounded below.
The stranger twisted his head toward Sarah.
“You shouldn’t have called.”
Luca tightened his grip.
The man smiled anyway.
“Ask him about Pier Nine.”
Vincent’s phone vibrated.
CARLO.
He answered.
His uncle spoke softly.
“Walk out of that apartment, Vincent.”
Then came a scrape.
A man’s strained voice.
“Sarah?”
May you like
Her knees nearly gave out.
She knew that voice.
