Chapter 3 - The Man Who Wanted Her Dead Knew Her Real Name
The first attempt on Sharise's life came on a rainy Thursday morning.
She was leaving the penthouse with Ramona when the elevator doors opened.
A man stood inside.
Brown coat.
Baseball cap.
Phone in hand.
Ramona stopped.
Sharise almost walked forward.
Then she noticed Ramona's expression.
"Back."
His arm came across her waist.
A gunshot shattered the elevator mirror.
The man dropped.
Ramona pulled Sharise into the hallway.
Security rushed in.
Within seconds, the attacker was disarmed.
Ramona crouched beside him.
"Who sent you?"
The man smiled through blood.
"She knows."
Ramona's eyes turned cold.
"Knows what?"
The attacker looked at Sharise.
"Ask her."
Then he died.
Sharise could barely breathe.
"I don't know anything."
"I believe you."
Ramona stood.
"But someone thinks you do."
They moved to a safe house.
For the first time, Sharise saw the scale of Ramona's world.
Men obeyed him without hesitation.
Phones rang constantly.
Maps covered walls.
Shipping manifests.
Photographs.
Names.
Locations.
The city seemed to unfold beneath his hands.
And still, when he looked at Sharise, his voice became quieter.
She noticed.
"You don't act like them."
"Like who?"
"The men who work for you."
"What do they say about me?"
"That you're ruthless."
"Are they wrong?"
She thought for a moment.
"I don't know."
He almost smiled.
"Honest."
"I try."
"That's rare."
Later, Ramona discovered a hidden recording in one of his brother's old files.
Matteo Cassell appeared on screen.
Older than the photographs.
Alive.
Calm.
"Ramona, if you're watching this, I'm either dead or very close."
Ramona's breathing stopped.
Matteo continued.
"Do not trust the port authority."
His expression became serious.
"The D'Arco family controls it."
Ramona whispered:
"D'Arco."
A rival syndicate.
Matteo looked at the camera.
"And there is a girl."
Sharise stepped closer.
"She survived."
"Her name is not what they told you."
The recording ended.
Ramona turned.
Sharise was pale.
"Who am I?"
"I don't know."
A second file appeared.
Another message.
Tell her about her mother.
Ramona hesitated.
Sharise saw his expression.
"What?"
"Matteo knew your mother."
"What?"
"He had photographs."
He opened one.
A young woman stood beside Matteo.
Sharise stared.
She knew the face.
"My mother."
Ramona nodded.
"Her name was Elena."
"I was told her name was Maria."
"She changed it."
"Why?"
"Because someone was looking for her."
The next photograph showed Elena holding a little girl.
Sharise.
Age five.
And beside them stood Matteo.
Ramona stared at the picture.
"My brother was protecting your family."
Sharise whispered:
"Then why did he die?"
"Because he failed."
"No."
She shook her head.
"Because someone wanted him dead."
Ramona closed the file.
"We're going after the truth."
"Together?"
He looked at her.
"Together."
She smiled faintly.
It was the first time either of them realized they had become a team.
That night, she fell asleep in the library.
Ramona found her there.
He covered her with a blanket.
She stirred.
"Are you still here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Because you were asleep."
"That's not a reason."
He smiled.
"It is for me."
She opened her eyes.
"Ramona?"
"Yes?"
"Do you miss your brother?"
The question hit him.
"Every day."
"What was he like?"
"Annoying."
She laughed.
"Really?"
"Very."
"What else?"
"Kind."
He looked at her.
"Braver than me."
Sharise was quiet.
"He sounds like someone I would have liked."
"You did."
She frowned.
"What?"
"He knew you."
Her heart stopped.
Ramona walked away before she could ask more.
Because there was one thing he had not told her.
Matteo's journal contained a photograph of Sharise at six years old.
May you like
And beneath it, one sentence.
She is the reason I'm doing this.
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