Chapter 2 - The Mechanic Who Lied
Finn Mercer disappeared before sunset.
His tool bag remained beside the espresso machine.
The machine itself sat open on the counter, half repaired, screws arranged neatly on a folded towel.
Finn’s truck was gone.
So was Finn.
Roman ordered the gates closed.
Nobody entered.
Nobody left.
Norah stood near the kitchen doorway while six armed men searched the servants’ wing.
“Was any of this necessary?” she asked.
Roman glanced at her.
“If Finn works for DeLuca, yes.”
“If.”
“Marco has a photograph.”
“A photograph of two people entering the same building.”
Roman’s mouth tightened.
“You’re defending him.”
“I’m questioning evidence.”
“That sounded like defending him.”
“And that sounded like jealousy.”
Roman gave her a warning look.
Under any other circumstances, Norah would have retreated.
She didn’t.
Something had changed when he told her she was free.
Maybe freedom arrived slowly.
Maybe the first sign was realizing she could disagree with someone without expecting punishment.
Roman stepped closer.
“You met him this afternoon.”
“Yes.”
“You know nothing about him.”
“I know he treated me like a person.”
The answer struck.
Norah saw it.
Roman turned away.
Marco entered carrying a phone.
“We found this behind the motor-pool garage.”
He handed it to Roman.
Cheap prepaid device.
Three calls.
All to the same number.
Roman’s security chief, Enzo Marchetti, ran the number.
His face darkened.
“DeLuca warehouse.”
Marco smiled.
“Told you.”
Norah didn’t like the satisfaction in his voice.
Roman looked toward her.
“What?”
She hadn’t realized she was staring at Marco.
“Nothing.”
“Say it.”
Marco’s smile vanished.
Norah took a breath.
“Mr. Vieri seems very pleased.”
Marco chuckled.
“About catching a spy?”
“You caught him fast.”
“I’m good at my job.”
“So good you had a photograph ready within an hour?”
The room changed.
Enzo looked down.
Roman watched Marco.
Marco’s expression remained relaxed.
“You suggesting something, sweetheart?”
Roman moved before Norah could answer.
One second he was beside the counter.
The next he stood directly between them.
“Don’t call her that.”
Marco’s eyebrows rose.
Silence.
Norah stared at Roman’s back.
Marco stared too.
Then smiled.
“Of course.”
He left.
Enzo followed more slowly.
Before going, he looked at Roman in a way Norah couldn’t understand.
Surprise.
Maybe warning.
When the room emptied, Norah said, “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
Roman turned.
“You didn’t like it.”
“That doesn’t mean you threaten everyone who annoys me.”
“I didn’t threaten him.”
“You stood in front of me like you were about to tear his throat out.”
“That is very different from threatening him.”
Norah almost smiled.
Roman noticed.
His expression softened for half a second.
Then his phone rang.
Enzo.
Roman answered.
“What?”
He listened.
“Where?”
Another pause.
“We’re coming.”
Norah frowned.
“We?”
Roman looked at her.
“You wanted proof.”
Twenty minutes later, she was sitting in the back of Roman’s armored SUV.
“This is insane.”
Roman sat beside her.
“You asked questions.”
“I didn’t ask to be taken to wherever armed mafia people go when someone disappears.”
“Warehouse.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
Roman almost smiled.
The vehicle stopped near the riverfront.
They entered an old shipping building.
Finn sat in a metal chair.
His lip was split.
His hands were tied.
Norah stopped walking.
“Roman.”
He heard the accusation.
“I didn’t order that.”
Marco stood behind Finn.
“He resisted.”
Finn laughed.
“With my face, apparently.”
Roman looked at Marco.
“Untie him.”
Marco hesitated.
“Boss—”
“Now.”
One of the guards cut the restraints.
Finn rubbed his wrists.
Norah approached.
“Are you okay?”
Roman disliked how quickly she moved toward him.
He disliked it enough to notice his own jealousy—and hate himself for it.
Finn looked at Norah.
“You should’ve stayed at the mansion.”
“Are you working for Victor DeLuca?”
Finn’s expression changed.
He looked at Roman.
Then Marco.
Then back at Norah.
“Yes.”
Marco smiled.
Roman’s jaw tightened.
Norah’s stomach sank.
Finn continued.
“But not the way you think.”
Marco stepped forward.
Roman raised one hand.
“Talk.”
Finn wiped blood from his mouth.
“My sister owes DeLuca money.”
Roman’s expression stayed flat.
“For what?”
“Her husband borrowed it. Then disappeared.”
Norah felt a sick familiarity.
Finn looked at her.
“They told me I could work off the debt.”
The same trap.
Roman saw Norah understand.
“What were you supposed to do?” he asked.
“Get into the estate. Watch deliveries. Learn schedules.”
“And?”
“Report them.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
“You started today.”
“I started at the motor pool three weeks ago. Today was my first time inside the house.”
Marco scoffed.
“He’s lying.”
Finn looked at him.
“You know I’m not.”
The words changed everything.
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Finn leaned back.
“Ask him how DeLuca knew I’d be hired.”
Nobody moved.
Marco laughed.
“He’s trying to save himself.”
“Ask him.”
Roman turned toward Marco.
“How did DeLuca know?”
“Roman—”
“How.”
Marco’s jaw tightened.
“Could be anyone.”
Finn laughed again.
“They gave me the name of the man who’d approve my application.”
Norah felt cold.
Roman already knew the answer.
“Say it.”
“Marco Vieri.”
The warehouse became silent.
Marco drew his gun.
Roman moved faster.
A shot exploded.
Norah screamed.
The bullet struck a steel column.
Roman slammed Marco against a crate.
Enzo and two guards rushed forward.
Finn dropped to the floor.
Roman ripped the gun from Marco’s hand and pressed it beneath his jaw.
“You sold access to my house?”
Marco breathed hard.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
“You think your father built this empire with clean hands?”
“My father is dead.”
“And everything he left you is rotting because you’ve gone soft.”
Roman’s grip tightened.
Marco looked toward Norah.
“That girl is proof.”
Roman’s face changed.
Norah stepped backward.
Marco laughed.
“You’re standing here protecting a maid.”
Roman hit him.
One blow.
Marco dropped.
Roman could have continued.
Everyone expected him to.
He didn’t.
He stepped away.
“Lock him downstairs.”
Enzo grabbed Marco.
Marco twisted toward Norah as they dragged him away.
“You want the truth about your father, girl?”
Norah froze.
Marco smiled through blood.
“Ask Costa what his family did to Daniel Bennett.”
Roman looked at Norah.
“Who?”
Her throat tightened.
“My father.”
Marco laughed as the guards pulled him through the door.
Norah turned toward Roman.
“You said you didn’t know him.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why did Marco?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your lieutenant knew my father.”
Roman said nothing.
Finn slowly stood.
“There’s something else.”
Roman looked at him.
“What?”
“DeLuca didn’t send me here because of your shipments.”
“Then why?”
Finn’s eyes moved toward Norah.
“They wanted me close to her.”
Norah’s blood went cold.
“Why?”
Finn swallowed.
“I was supposed to find out whether Daniel Bennett left his daughter anything before he died.”
Norah stared at him.
“My father left debts.”
Finn shook his head.
“That’s not what DeLuca believes.”
“What does he believe?”
Finn looked at Roman.
Then back at her.
“He thinks your father stole something from the Costa family.”
Roman’s voice hardened.
“What?”
Finn answered quietly.
May you like
“A ledger.”
And from somewhere beneath the warehouse floor, an alarm began screaming.
