Chapter 7 - The Warehouse Where Every Lie Finally Came Apart
The warehouse was empty.
Too empty.
Roman knew immediately.
“It's a trap.”
Victor checked the exits.
“Of course it is.”
A voice came over the speakers.
Sophia.
“You were always predictable, Roman.”
The doors slammed shut.
Gas began filling the room.
Roman pulled his jacket over Lily's mouth.
I grabbed a fire extinguisher.
Victor smashed a window.
We escaped through the side.
But Lily was gone.
Roman's face changed.
“Lily!”
A car drove away.
Sophia had taken her.
Roman stood frozen.
I grabbed his face.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“We're getting her back.”
He nodded.
Victor said, “I know where she'll take her.”
“Where?”
“Our childhood home.”
Roman looked at him.
“The estate?”
Victor nodded.
“Sophia keeps everything she considers hers there.”
We drove.
The estate was abandoned.
Except for one light.
Inside, Sophia sat beside Lily.
“You've caused your uncle considerable trouble.”
Lily glared.
“You killed my mother.”
Sophia smiled.
“Your mother betrayed the family.”
“She saved me.”
“She stole you.”
“No.”
Lily's voice strengthened.
“She protected me from you.”
Sophia's smile vanished.
The doors opened.
Roman entered.
“I'll make this easy.”
Sophia laughed.
“You always were sentimental.”
“Let her go.”
“Or what?”
Roman raised his gun.
Sophia smiled.
“You won't shoot me.”
“No.”
Roman lowered the weapon.
“I won't.”
Victor stepped beside him.
“But I will expose you.”
Sophia looked at him.
“You?”
Victor held up a recording device.
“Every word you've said tonight has been recorded.”
Sophia's face changed.
Then she smiled.
“You think evidence matters?”
A police siren sounded outside.
Sophia looked toward the windows.
Roman said quietly, “It does now.”
Sophia realized.
The ledger.
The recordings.
The financial records.
Everything had already been sent to federal investigators.
Her empire was finished.
She had one final move.
She pulled a hidden gun.
Lily screamed.
Roman moved.
The shot rang out.
May you like
Roman fell.
I screamed his name.
