Chương 8
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man’s voice said, “You look terrible in gray sweatpants.”
Lucian stood so fast the table shook.
Elena grabbed his sleeve before he tore the stitches again.
The voice continued.
“Sit down, Luca.”
Lucian’s face changed.
“Marco.”
His brother laughed softly.
“Finally.”
“Where are you?”
“Not answering that.”
“You sold me.”
“No.”
“Adrian knew the club route.”
“Adrian knows everything because you let him.”
“You disappeared.”
“Because three men tried to put me in the river.”
Lucian looked at Elena.
“Who?”
“Adrian’s security people.”
“When?”
“Tuesday.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did.”
“No.”
“Yes. Eddie answered.”
Lucian became still.
Elena saw the connection before he spoke.
“Eddie.”
Marco said, “Your loyal driver. The one who took you where tonight?”
Lucian sat down.
The world shifted again.
Eddie had directed Lucian to Elena’s building.
Eddie knew a nurse lived there.
If Eddie worked for Adrian, then Adrian had known exactly where Lucian would go after the shooting.
Elena whispered, “It was a trap.”
Lucian’s eyes met hers.
Marco heard.
“Who’s that?”
“No one.”
Elena gave Lucian an irritated look.
Marco said, “Sounds like someone.”
Lucian ignored him.
“Where is Eddie?”
“If I knew, I’d be dealing with him.”
“Why call now?”
“Because I saw you leave Mercy.”
Elena stood.
Lucian scanned the diner windows.
Marco said, “Relax. I had one person watching hospitals.”
“For me.”
“For either of us. You’re not the only Moretti who bleeds.”
Lucian pressed fingers to his forehead.
“What did you take?”
“Money.”
“How much?”
“Two-point-three.”
Elena mouthed million?
Lucian nodded once.
Marco said, “But not from you.”
“Explain.”
“Adrian’s been running collections off-book for a year. Using your name, keeping the difference. I moved the money because I needed something he would notice.”
“That is stealing.”
“Yes.”
“You could have brought me evidence.”
“I did. You called it paranoid bookkeeping.”
Lucian’s face tightened.
Marco continued, “You always think loyalty looks like silence.”
The line went quiet.
Elena watched Lucian absorb it.
Not dismiss it.
That seemed new.
“Where are the records?” Lucian asked.
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Not with me.”
“Marco.”
“Find Eddie. He connects Adrian to Dane.”
Elena leaned closer.
“Garrett?”
Marco heard.
“Whoever that is.”
“Dane Risk Solutions,” Lucian said.
Marco stopped joking.
“Yes.”
“What do you know?”
“Adrian paid them through three shell vendors. Mostly tracking jobs. One file was labeled E.V.”
Elena’s skin prickled.
Lucian looked at her.
“What was in it?”
“I didn’t open it.”
“Why not?”
“Because unlike you, I occasionally understand boundaries.”
Lucian almost snapped back.
Elena touched his arm.
He stopped.
“When did you see the file?” she asked.
Marco answered, “Four months ago.”
Four months.
Elena had still believed she was invisible four months ago.
“What else?”
“Nothing.”
“Can you get it?”
“No. Adrian moved the server after I took the money.”
“Where?”
“If I knew, this would be a shorter conversation.”
Lucian said, “Meet me.”
Marco laughed.
“No.”
“You called because you want something.”
“I want you alive long enough to admit I was right.”
“Enjoy the moment. Meet me.”
A long pause.
“Union Station. Seven fifteen. Main concourse.”
Lucian said, “Too public.”
“Exactly.”
The call ended.
Elena looked at the clock.
Nearly two hours.
“You’re not going.”
“Yes.”
“You can barely sit upright.”
“He has evidence.”
“He may also be bait.”
“He’s my brother.”
“That does not improve the odds.”
Lucian looked at her.
“You came with me this far.”
“I came because Garrett is attached to this.”
“And if Marco has the file—”
“I know.”
She hated how quickly their interests had fused.
She also hated that some part of her trusted Lucian more than she had four hours ago.
Trust was not a feeling she enjoyed discovering under pressure.
At six fifteen, they bought normal clothes with cash from a discount store.
Lucian chose black pants that fit.
Elena found a dark baseball cap to hide the uneven haircut.
At a pharmacy, she bought more gauze, tape, saline, antiseptic, and a cheap blood-pressure cuff.
Lucian watched the total.
“You’re keeping receipts?”
“For taxes.”
He stared.
She almost smiled.
Outside, morning had begun without asking permission.
Commuters filled sidewalks.
Buses groaned.
Coffee shops opened.
A man argued into wireless earbuds about printer toner.
Elena found herself furious at him for having such a normal problem.
Then ashamed.
Then tired.
They sat in the back of a laundromat while she checked Lucian’s wound again.
His blood pressure was low but not collapsing.
“Hospital,” she said.
“Later.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I keep meaning it.”
“You may develop internal bleeding.”
“I may also get arrested.”
“You’re worried about arrest?”
“I’m worried about who gets access to me in custody.”
Elena understood that too well.
She wrapped the dressing.
“Do you have children?”
Lucian looked surprised.
“No.”
“Wife?”
“No.”
“Girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Boyfriend?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“No.”
“Anyone who will care if you die besides the brother accusing you of being arrogant?”
“Yes.”
He did not elaborate.
She did not ask.
At seven ten, Union Station was full enough to hide everyone and nobody.
Marco Moretti arrived wearing a navy raincoat and carrying no bag.
He was younger than Lucian by four years, slimmer, with the same dark eyes but less discipline in his face.
When he saw Lucian’s clothing, he laughed.
Lucian said, “Good morning.”
Marco looked at Elena.
“And you are?”
“Elena.”
“Just Elena?”
“Yes.”
Marco’s gaze stayed on her.
“You’re the nurse.”
Lucian stepped between them.
“How do you know?”
Marco’s expression changed.
“Eddie.”
“When?”
“Last month. He complained Adrian had him tracking some hospital employee.”
Elena felt Lucian go still beside her.
“Name?” she asked.
“No. But he said she’d moved cities and dyed her hair. Thought it was funny.”
Marco’s eyes moved to her cap.
“Oh.”
Elena stared at him.
“What exactly did he say?”
Marco became uncomfortable.
“That Adrian’s investigator had been looking for someone for years. That Eddie helped confirm an address.”
“When?”
“Maybe six weeks ago.”
May you like
Elena’s hand closed around the strap of her bag.
Six weeks.
