Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER
They found Dante’s car abandoned near the river.
Blood covered the driver’s seat.
Naomi stood behind Luca while Marco checked the vehicle.
“Is it his?”
“We don’t know.”
Luca stared at the blood.
Naomi touched his arm.
He looked at her.
For once, he didn’t pull away.
Marco’s phone rang.
He answered.
Then held it out.
“It’s Dominic.”
Luca took it.
“Where is my brother?”
A video arrived.
Dante was tied to a chair.
Face bruised.
One eye swollen shut.
Dominic stood behind him.
“Hello, Luca.”
Luca’s voice was deadly calm.
“What do you want?”
“The ledgers. The drives. The confession.”
“You kill him, you get nothing.”
Dominic smiled.
“I know.”
Vivian entered the frame.
She touched Dante’s bleeding cheek.
Dante spat at her.
“Still charming,” she said.
Then she punched him.
Naomi flinched.
Luca didn’t.
But his fist closed so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Dominic continued.
“Midnight. Old Grand Central terminal.”
“It’s closed.”
“Exactly.”
“Bring Naomi.”
Luca’s eyes sharpened.
“No.”
Naomi looked at him.
Dominic laughed.
“You don’t have a choice.”
The video ended.
Luca immediately said, “You’re not going.”
Naomi folded her arms.
“He specifically asked for me.”
“Which is why you’re not going.”
“My father died because of him.”
“And you think dying too will help?”
“I think you need someone he wants.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“That attitude is how your house got invaded.”
Marco looked down.
Luca stared at her.
“You are not a weapon.”
“Then stop treating everyone else like one.”
That hit.
Luca turned away.
Naomi stepped closer.
“You need me.”
“No.”
“You hate that.”
“Yes.”
“You also know I’m right.”
He looked back.
A long silence.
Finally, “You stay next to me.”
“Fine.”
“If I tell you to run, you run.”
“Maybe.”
“Naomi.”
“Fine.”
“At least pretend you respect me.”
“I respect your mother.”
Marco coughed to hide a laugh.
Luca glared at him.
Hours later, they prepared the exchange.
Naomi wore a bulletproof vest under her coat.
Luca checked it himself.
“You’re pulling it too tight.”
“Good.”
“I need lungs.”
“You need armor.”
Naomi looked at him.
“You scared?”
Luca stopped.
Nobody asked Luca Moretti that.
He slowly met her eyes.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her.
“For Dante?”
“Yes.”
He tightened the last strap.
“And you.”
Naomi swallowed.
“Luca—”
He leaned forward.
For half a second, she thought he might kiss her.
Instead, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Come back with me.”
Naomi whispered, “I will.”
Then Marco burst into the room.
“Boss.”
Luca stepped away.
“What?”
Marco held up the evidence case.
“It’s empty.”
Luca went still.
Naomi stared.
May you like
All the evidence against Dominic had vanished.
And only three people knew where Luca had hidden it.
