THE GHOST AWAKE

Lena didn't flinch. She kept her gun trained squarely on Vargas's chest.

"Let her go, Hector," Lena said, the rain plastering her dark hair to her face. "You came for me. She's nothing to you."

Celeste sobbed, her face bruised and terrified. "Lena, I'm sorry! He was waiting at my apartment! He knew I took the ledger!"

Vargas chuckled, the sound like grinding stones. "Your husband is a fool, Elena. Damian Russo thought he could use me to clean up his mess. He called me tonight, offering me his entire territory if I brought him your head. But why would I work for a broken king when I can take the crown myself?"

Vargas shoved Celeste to the wet gravel. She scrambled away, weeping.

"I have your family’s money, Elena," Vargas taunted, taking a step closer. "And now I have Russo’s ledger. Tomorrow, I rule the East Coast. And the Navarro bloodline finally ends in the mud."

"You don't have my money," Lena said coldly. "The offshore accounts were transferred into a trust an hour ago. The only person who can access them is my son."

Vargas halted. His eyes darted to the dark sedan behind Lena. "A son."

Before Vargas could raise his weapon, tires shrieked in the distance. Two black SUVs smashed through the chain-link fence of the railyard. Damian Russo’s men.

Vargas cursed, firing a blind shot at Lena before sprinting toward the cover of the abandoned train cars.

Lena ducked, the bullet shattering the sedan’s window. "Leo, stay down!" she screamed, opening the back door to cover him with her body.

Damian’s SUV skidded to a halt. He stepped out, heedless of the rain, his eyes locking onto Lena. He didn't look at Vargas. He didn't look at his men who were now exchanging fire with the cartel hitmen in the shadows.

He walked straight toward his wife.

Lena raised her gun, pointing it right at Damian’s heart. "Stop right there."

Damian stopped. He looked at the gun, then at the shattered window behind her. He saw a small, trembling hand clutching the edge of a blanket.

"Lena," Damian said, his voice breaking. It was the first time in his life he had ever sounded helpless. "Is he hurt?"

"No thanks to you," she spat. "You sent the butchers to our door."

"I didn't know you had my son!" Damian yelled, stepping forward.

Lena cocked the hammer. "Take one more step, Damian. I swear to God."

From the gravel, Celeste crawled toward the abandoned ledger Vargas had dropped in his retreat. She grabbed it, holding it up like a shield. "Lena! Take it! Just let me go!"

Lena kept her gun on Damian but reached back with her left hand to grab the heavy book. As she pulled it from Celeste, a false compartment in the leather binding tore open.

A folded piece of faded, yellowed paper slipped out and fluttered to the wet ground.

Damian looked at the paper, his face draining of color. "Don't."

Lena frowned, lowering the gun an inch. She kicked the paper toward her, keeping her eyes on Damian as she crouched to pick it up.

It wasn't a list of bribes or bank accounts.