Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Came Back Asking for Mercy
Vanessa returned at 2:17 a.m.
She entered through the servant entrance.
She was barefoot.
Her red dress was torn.
There was blood on her sleeve.
I found her sitting on the kitchen floor.
She raised her hands.
“Don't call him.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because he'll kill me.”
“You're afraid of Luca?”
“No.”
“Mason?”
She nodded.
“Where have you been?”
“Running.”
“Why come back?”
She looked at me.
“Because there's nowhere else.”
I should have walked away.
Instead, I sat across from her.
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You lied.”
“I know.”
“You tried to destroy Luca.”
“I know.”
“Then why should I help you?”
She began crying.
“Because I know how Mason works.”
I stayed silent.
“He doesn't want Luca dead yet.”
“Why?”
“Because he needs him.”
“For what?”
“The port transfer.”
Vanessa explained.
Mason had forged documents that would transfer control of three major shipping routes to a holding company.
The legal signature belonged to Luca.
If Luca disappeared, the transaction would fail.
If he signed under pressure, Mason would own everything.
“And you?”
“He planned to kill me afterward.”
She showed me a recording.
Mason's voice.
Take everything from Moretti. Burn Bellini.
Vanessa had finally realized she was disposable.
She had run.
Luca entered the kitchen.
He saw Vanessa.
His hand moved toward his weapon.
She flinched.
“Wait.”
He looked at me.
“Why is she here?”
I answered.
“She has evidence.”
Luca stared at Vanessa.
“Speak.”
She handed him the recording.
He listened.
His face hardened.
“You knew all along.”
“I knew pieces.”
“You still lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come to me?”
“Because I was afraid you would kill me.”
Luca looked at her.
“I wanted to.”
Vanessa cried.
“I know.”
He lowered the weapon.
“But Grace is right.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“She shouldn't be.”
Luca turned away.
“We use what you know.”
Vanessa nodded.
She told us about Mason's compound.
An old luxury hotel outside the city.
Mason met his partners there.
The final transfer documents were stored in a private vault.
Tomorrow night.
We needed to stop him before the signatures.
But there was another problem.
Adrian's name was on the list.
Mason planned to frame him for every crime.
If the transfer failed, Adrian would be blamed.
We couldn't allow that.
So we created a plan.
Vanessa would return to Mason.
She would pretend she had succeeded in destroying the recording.
Luca would allow himself to be captured.
Adrian would infiltrate the hotel through the service tunnels.
I would access the vault.
The plan depended on trust.
Something none of us had much of.
Before leaving, Luca found me alone.
“Are you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I frowned.
“Why good?”
“Because fear keeps you careful.”
He took my hand.
Very gently.
“If anything happens, you leave.”
“I won't.”
“Grace.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I spent six years believing my father was dead.”
“You're not losing him again.”
“And you?"
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“I'm not leaving you either.”
His jaw tightened.
“You don't know what you're promising.”
“I do.”
He looked at my injured hand.
“You've been brave since the first day I met you.”
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
He smiled faintly.
“That's why.”
I kissed him.
It was not dramatic.
Not rushed.
Just a quiet confirmation.
When we separated, he whispered:
“Stay alive.”
“Only if you do.”
The next night, the plan began.
Vanessa arrived at Mason's hotel.
Luca followed deliberately.
Security captured him.
Exactly as planned.
Mason laughed.
“You came.”
Luca's hands were restrained.
“You wanted me.”
“I did.”
Vanessa stepped into the room.
Mason looked at her.
“Did you bring Grace?”
“No.”
“Then you're useless.”
She smiled.
“Not yet.”
Across the hotel, Adrian entered the service tunnels.
I followed.
The vault door was beyond a biometric lock.
My father's USB drive contained the code.
I inserted it.
The door opened.
Inside were hundreds of files.
I found the transfer contract.
The names.
The accounts.
The recordings.
And the final murder order.
Mason had ordered the deaths of my parents and Luca's father.
I photographed everything.
Then a light came on.
A voice behind me.
“You really are your father's daughter.”
I turned.
May you like
Mason stood there.
Gun in hand.
