Chapter 6 - THE TICKET TO NOWHERE
The gunshot was deafening inside the small concrete room.
I had never fired a weapon before, but pure adrenaline and the instinct to protect the little girl sleeping in the next room guided my hands.
The bullet caught Enzo in the shoulder—for real this time. He cried out, dropping his silenced pistol, and stumbled backward into the door.
I didn't hesitate. I kicked his weapon across the floor and leveled my gun right at his chest.
“Don't move,” I screamed, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
Sophie came running out of the bedroom, her hands over her ears. “Elise!”
“Stay back, Sophie!” I yelled.
Enzo leaned against the door, laughing weakly, blood seeping through his jacket. “You think shooting me changes anything, little maid? Vincent is already at the docks. Gabriel is dead by now.”
“You’re lying,” I said, though panic was clawing at my throat.
“Am I?” Enzo smiled a bloody smile. “Search my left pocket.”
Keeping the gun trained on him, I reached into his coat pocket. I pulled out a folded piece of thick cardstock.
It was a first-class boarding pass to Switzerland. Departure time: 6:00 AM. Passenger name: Enzo Moretti.
“Vincent paid me two million to lead Gabriel into the ambush, and to come here and clean up the loose ends,” Enzo coughed. “The flight leaves in two hours. You really think I’d be here if Gabriel was still breathing?”
My heart shattered. Gabriel. The man who had defended me at dinner, who had looked at me like I mattered. He couldn't be gone.
“Then we’re leaving,” I said, grabbing Gabriel’s keys from the counter. “Sophie, get your shoes.”
“You can’t run,” Enzo sneered. “Marco is waiting at the end of the alley. If I don't walk out with the girl in five minutes, he’s coming in with a team.”
I looked at the security monitor. Sure enough, two black SUVs were idling at the mouth of the alley.
We were trapped.
I looked around the safehouse. No back door. No windows large enough to climb through.
Then I looked at the bloody cashmere coat still sitting on the island. The coat Camille had used to blackmail Marco.
I walked over to Enzo. I grabbed him by the collar.
“Marco doesn't know you sold out to Vincent, does he?” I demanded. “Marco thinks you’re here to help him.”
“What does it matter?” Enzo spat.
“Because Marco wants the audio file,” I said, holding up the tiny emerald flash drive. “The one where he confesses to killing Elena.”
Enzo’s eyes widened. “He doesn't know that exists.”
“He’s about to.”
I dragged Enzo to his feet, keeping the gun pressed to his spine. “Walk to the door. We’re going to step outside together. If you say a single word to warn them, I will shoot you in the spine.”
I held Sophie’s hand tight. “Stay right behind me, sweetheart.”
I opened the heavy steel door. The rain was pouring down. I shoved Enzo out first.
Instantly, the headlights of the SUVs at the end of the alley flicked on, blinding us. Doors opened. Men poured out, heavily armed.
Marco stepped into the light, holding a silver wolf’s head cane. He had taken it from his uncle.
“Enzo!” Marco yelled over the rain. “You got the girl?”
“I have the flash drive, Marco!” I screamed back, holding the tiny emerald up in the glare of the headlights. “I have Camille’s recording! I know you killed Elena!”
Marco froze. The men around him shifted, murmuring. Murdering a Don’s wife was an unforgivable sin in the family, even if ordered by an uncle. If the captains heard this, Marco would be dead by morning.
“Give it to me, Elise,” Marco said, stepping forward, his voice dripping with venom. “And I’ll let you and the kid walk away.”
“No, you won't,” a deep, thunderous voice echoed from the fire escape above us.
May you like
I looked up.
Gabriel was standing on the metal grating, bloodied, soaked in rain, holding an assault rifle aimed directly at his brother’s chest.
