Chapter 6 - The Woman in the Red Coat
Elena’s body was found inside an abandoned warehouse.
She had been shot once.
On her coat was a red ribbon.
Leo recognized it immediately.
It was an old symbol used by Vincent Valenti.
But the police would never investigate.
Too many officers owed favors to too many powerful men.
Leo handled it himself.
The murder created panic within the organization.
If Elena had truly been a traitor, someone had silenced her.
If she had been protecting someone else, the killer had closed the only mouth capable of exposing the truth.
Chloe began to suspect that the real enemy was closer than anyone believed.
She was right.
Three days later, Danny disappeared.
A message arrived on Chloe’s phone.
COME ALONE.
There was an address.
She knew better.
Still, she went.
By the time Leo realized she was gone, Chloe was already inside an old train station.
Vincent Valenti was waiting.
He was younger than she expected.
Late thirties.
Calm.
Well dressed.
He did not look like a gangster.
That made him more frightening.
“You’re Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“You came alone.”
“You threatened my brother.”
“He is alive.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“Let me see him.”
“Soon.”
Chloe’s hands trembled.
“What do you want?”
Vincent smiled.
“The child.”
She stepped back.
“You want my baby.”
“I want Leo’s future.”
“It’s not yours.”
Vincent’s smile disappeared.
“You think he loves you?”
Chloe said nothing.
“He doesn’t.”
“You don’t know him.”
“I know him better than you ever will.”
Vincent walked closer.
“He was supposed to marry my sister. He destroyed my family. He took our territory. He built his empire on our losses.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You’re the one thing he cannot replace.”
He lifted a tablet.
On the screen was a security image.
Leo sleeping in a chair beside Chloe’s hospital bed.
Vincent tapped the screen.
“Look at him.”
Chloe stared.
“He stayed awake all night.”
“He is protecting me.”
“No.”
Vincent smiled.
“He is attached.”
Chloe looked away.
That distinction terrified her.
Vincent continued.
“That is his weakness.”
Suddenly, gunfire erupted outside.
Vincent’s guards turned.
Leo had found them.
He entered the station like a storm.
His men moved through the building.
Vincent stepped backward.
“Go,” he told Chloe.
She stared at him.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Leo reached her.
He pulled her behind him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Where is Danny?”
Vincent answered.
“Safe.”
Leo pointed his weapon.
“Where?”
“You’re always so impatient.”
Leo’s finger tightened.
Chloe grabbed his arm.
“Leo.”
Vincent smiled.
“There she is.”
Leo stared.
“You used her to draw me here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because killing you would make her a widow. Losing you will make her something worse.”
Leo advanced.
Vincent suddenly laughed.
“You don’t know, do you?”
Leo stopped.
“Know what?”
“Your own brother sold you out.”
Silence.
Chloe looked at Leo.
“My brother?”
Vincent continued.
“Danny came to us.”
“That’s a lie,” Chloe whispered.
“No.”
A recording began playing.
Danny’s voice.
“I can give you access.”
Chloe felt her heart break.
Leo looked at her.
Then the recording continued.
Danny mentioned security routes.
The mansion.
The clinic.
Everything.
Chloe covered her mouth.
Vincent smiled.
“Your brother betrayed you.”
Leo’s voice was deadly calm.
“Where is he?”
Vincent looked toward the exit.
“Ask him.”
Then the building exploded with noise.
Vincent escaped.
Leo grabbed Chloe and shielded her.
When the dust settled, Danny appeared.
He was bleeding.
He collapsed against the wall.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Chloe rushed to him.
“Danny!”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You gave them everything.”
“I gave them false information.”
Leo looked at him.
Danny cried.
“The routes were fake. The passwords were fake. I knew they would follow me.”
Leo stared.
Danny continued.
“I wanted to lead them away from you.”
Chloe knelt beside her brother.
“You should have told me.”
“I thought you’d stop me.”
“I would have.”
“Exactly.”
She hugged him.
Leo watched.
His phone rang.
He answered.
Then his face changed.
“What?”
A pause.
“Get a car.”
He hung up.
Chloe looked up.
“What happened?”
Leo stared at her stomach.
“The doctor says your blood pressure is dangerously low.”
She frowned.
May you like
“So?”
“So we are going to the hospital.”
