Chapter 3 - The Woman They Were Never Supposed to Find
We drove for almost an hour.
Vincent refused to tell me where we were going.
I refused to stop asking.
Eventually, he handed me a bulletproof vest.
I stared at it.
“You've got to be kidding.”
“Put it on.”
“I've never worn one.”
“Neither had I when I first needed one.”
“That is not comforting.”
He reached across and adjusted the strap.
His fingers brushed my shoulder.
For one second, everything became strangely quiet.
His eyes met mine.
Then he pulled away.
“Stay close.”
We arrived at an abandoned warehouse near the Delaware River.
A single light burned inside.
Vincent stepped out.
I followed.
Three men surrounded us.
One of them pointed a gun at me.
Vincent immediately stepped between us.
“Where's Luca?”
A speaker crackled overhead.
“Where's the drive?”
Vincent lifted it.
“First my brother.”
A laugh.
“You're negotiating from weakness.”
“No.”
Vincent looked around.
“I'm negotiating from patience.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Vincent pulled me behind a concrete pillar.
His security team returned fire.
I covered my ears.
Someone screamed.
Then silence.
Vincent grabbed my hand.
“Run.”
We moved through a side corridor.
A door opened ahead.
A man stepped out.
Vincent hit him before he could raise his weapon.
They fought brutally.
I backed away.
Then I saw another man behind Vincent.
I grabbed a metal pipe.
I struck him.
He collapsed.
Vincent turned.
He looked at me.
“You just saved my life.”
“I guess we're even.”
He almost smiled.
Then a voice came from the shadows.
“Vincent.”
Luca stepped into the light.
His hands were tied.
His face was bruised.
Vincent froze.
“Luca.”
“Don't move.”
A woman emerged behind him.
Madison Vale.
I didn't know her name yet.
But I knew she was beautiful.
And Vincent knew her.
The moment he saw her, his face changed.
Not fear.
Something worse.
Guilt.
She held a gun against Luca's head.
“You brought her.”
Vincent stared at her.
“Let him go.”
“You still don't understand.”
She looked at me.
“Do you know what he is?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“You know what people call him.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't know what he did.”
Vincent's voice became quiet.
“Madison.”
She looked at him.
“You remember my name.”
Something broke in her expression.
I suddenly understood.
This woman wasn't just an enemy.
She had loved him.
Maybe she still did.
She looked at me.
“Ask him about your father.”
My heart stopped.
“My father?”
Vincent went pale.
Madison laughed.
“Exactly.”
Vincent stepped toward her.
“Don't.”
“Your father didn't die naturally.”
I stared at Vincent.
“What is she talking about?”
He didn't answer.
“Vincent.”
His eyes closed.
Madison lowered the gun.
“Your father was investigating Moretti money laundering through shipping companies.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My father worked at the port.”
“I know.”
“He died in an accident.”
Vincent said nothing.
Madison continued.
“He was going to expose them.”
I looked at Vincent.
“Did your family kill my father?”
Vincent finally looked at me.
“No.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
He took a breath.
“My father ordered the investigation stopped.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I know.”
Madison's smile disappeared.
“Ask him who carried out the order.”
Vincent stared at her.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“Your father discovered evidence that could have destroyed the Moretti organization. Someone made sure he never delivered it.”
I felt sick.
Vincent stepped closer.
“I didn't know.”
“That's what you always say.”
Madison pointed the gun at him.
“You never know.”
Luca suddenly moved.
He kicked Madison's leg.
She stumbled.
Vincent rushed forward.
The gun fired.
The bullet hit the wall.
Security entered.
Madison disappeared through a side door.
Vincent freed Luca.
Then he turned to me.
I stepped backward.
“You knew.”
“I knew something was wrong.”
“You knew about my father?”
“Not until tonight.”
I shook my head.
“I don't believe you.”
He looked devastated.
And for the first time, I realized something terrifying.
Vincent Moretti could control almost everything around him.
Except me.
He walked toward me.
I stepped back again.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“I won't.”
“Then tell me everything.”
May you like
He nodded.
“I will.”
