Chapter 6 - LOCKER 317

Union Station was nearly empty at two in the morning.

Paolo brought Marco, Darius, and no one else.

Elise stayed at a secure apartment with Ava.

Carmela and Talia remained locked inside separate rooms under guard.

Locker 317 sat at the far end of a narrow corridor.

Paolo inserted the silver key.

“Ready?” Marco asked.

“No.”

He opened it anyway.

Inside was a single cardboard box.

No explosives.

No weapon.

Just files.

Photos.

Bank records.

And a phone.

Paolo turned it on.

One video appeared.

He pressed play.

Luca filled the screen.

But this Luca looked different.

Healthy.

Clean-shaven.

Calm.

The video had been recorded only three days earlier.

Paolo felt cold.

“If you’re watching this, Paolo, then you survived the second move.”

Marco swore under his breath.

Luca continued.

“I know what Carlo told you. Some of it is true.”

Paolo clenched his fists.

“I helped stage evidence. I lied to everyone. I disappeared on purpose.”

Marco whispered, “Son of a—”

Luca’s voice continued.

“But I didn’t order the shooting in Sicily.”

Paolo leaned closer.

“I was trying to find who did.”

The video changed.

Photographs appeared.

Victor meeting Carmela.

Talia meeting Victor.

Then another photo.

Victor meeting a man whose face Paolo knew better than his own.

His uncle.

Renato Ventresca.

Paolo’s father’s younger brother.

Renato had supposedly retired to Florida eight years earlier.

Luca continued.

“Renato has been building a second network inside the family businesses for years.”

Paolo stared at the photograph.

“He used Victor to move money. Carmela discovered it and tried to protect the family name by covering it up.”

Marco looked at Paolo.

That explained some things.

Not enough.

“Talia was used as a courier. She thought she was helping Carmela hide financial crimes from you.”

Paolo’s face hardened.

The next image appeared.

A transcript.

An order.

Eliminate Paolo during Sicily trip.

Authorized by R.V.

Renato Ventresca.

Paolo slowly sat down.

Luca continued.

“Your mother knew about the plan before the attack.”

Paolo looked back at the screen.

“But instead of warning you, she believed Renato when he told her you wouldn’t be killed. He said they only wanted to frighten you into signing control back to the family trust.”

Paolo whispered, “Jesus.”

“She was wrong.”

The screen changed again.

The River Road accident.

Elise’s destroyed car.

“That one wasn’t Carmela.”

Paolo froze.

“Renato ordered it.”

He exhaled.

“Your mother took credit because she believes admitting to one crime is safer than admitting she allowed the man behind all of them into your company.”

Marco whispered, “That woman is insane.”

Luca continued.

“I disappeared because Renato tried to kill me after I discovered him.”

Paolo stood.

“Then why not come to me?”

As though answering him, Luca said, “Because I didn’t know whether you were compromised.”

Paolo laughed bitterly.

“You always were paranoid.”

The video ended with one final message.

“Renato will come for Ava next. She is the only heir whose existence keeps Elise’s ownership protected if you die.”

Paolo’s blood turned to ice.

He immediately pulled out his phone.

No signal.

Marco checked his.

“Jammer.”

The corridor lights went out.

Darius raised his weapon.

“Contact!”

Three shadows appeared at the entrance.

Paolo ducked behind the lockers as gunfire tore into the metal doors.

Marco returned fire.

Darius shouted.

“Boss, back exit!”

Paolo ran toward the emergency stairs.

His only thought was Elise.

Ava.

He reached the street and finally got a signal.

His phone immediately rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

“Paolo?”

It was Elise.

She was crying.

“Where’s Ava?”

Silence.

“Elise.”

“They took her.”

Paolo stopped dead.

“Who?”

Then a man’s voice came over the phone.

Smooth.

Familiar.

“Hello, nephew.”

Paolo closed his eyes.

“Renato.”

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