Chapter 7 - THE FATHER WHO TOOK HIS OWN SON
I called Marcus's phone fifteen times.
Nothing.
Richard answered on the sixteenth.
“Jean.”
I nearly stopped breathing.
I hadn't heard that voice in eight years.
But underneath the confidence and money, I recognized it.
Eric.
“Give me my son.”
“He's my son too.”
“You abandoned him.”
“I protected him.”
“By disappearing?”
“You wouldn't understand.”
I laughed.
“Try me.”
Richard sighed.
“I never planned to hurt you at the restaurant.”
My injured wrist throbbed.
“You grabbed me, shoved me down, and almost kicked me.”
“I was performing.”
The word made me sick.
“For who?”
“Russo.”
Thomas leaned closer to the phone.
Richard heard him.
“Dinaro.”
Thomas's voice became ice.
“If Marcus is hurt, nowhere in this city will hide you.”
Richard laughed.
“You really think this is your city?”
Thomas's jaw tightened.
Richard continued.
“Bring the ring to Pier 84. Midnight.”
I looked at Thomas.
“No.”
Richard heard me.
“Then you never see Marcus again.”
The call ended.
I turned to Elena.
“What is on this ring?”
She looked exhausted.
“Names.”
“What names?”
“Everyone your grandfather paid.”
Thomas's face hardened.
“Carlo?”
“Yes.”
“Politicians?”
“Yes.”
“Police?”
“Yes.”
“Federal agents?”
She nodded.
The room went quiet.
The evidence wasn't just criminal.
It could bring down entire institutions.
No wonder everyone wanted it.
Gabriel had been taken to a private clinic.
The bullet had missed anything vital.
He would survive.
I didn't care about any of that.
Marcus.
Thomas stood beside the window.
“We don't give Richard the ring.”
I stared at him.
“We do if it gets Marcus back.”
“No.”
“You don't get a vote.”
“Jean—”
“My son.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
His expression changed.
I regretted it immediately.
But I didn't take it back.
Thomas walked toward me.
“I don't know what it's like to have a child.”
His voice was quiet.
“But I know what it's like to lose everyone you love because someone keeps telling you the sacrifice is necessary.”
He looked at Elena.
Then at me.
“I won't ask you to sacrifice Marcus.”
My throat tightened.
“Then what?”
“We give Richard what he thinks is the ring.”
Vincent entered holding a small case.
“A duplicate.”
I frowned.
“You made one already?”
Thomas shrugged slightly.
“I plan ahead.”
For the first time all night, I almost smiled.
At 11:58 P.M., the pier was nearly empty.
Rain misted over the Hudson.
I wore the fake ring.
Thomas stayed hidden nearby with his men.
I hated it.
But I trusted him.
That frightened me almost as much as Richard.
A black SUV stopped.
Richard stepped out.
Marcus was beside him.
My heart broke.
“Mom!”
I ran forward.
Richard caught his shoulder.
“Ring first.”
I stopped.
“Let him go.”
“Ring.”
I pulled it off.
Held it up.
Richard smiled.
Then another car approached.
Damian Russo stepped out.
Older.
Thin.
Cold eyes.
He looked at me.
“Elena's daughter.”
I understood immediately.
Richard wasn't in control.
Russo was.
I tossed the ring.
Richard caught it.
Russo took Marcus.
My stomach dropped.
“That wasn't the deal.”
Russo smiled.
“There was never a deal.”
Thomas appeared from the darkness.
Guns lifted everywhere.
“Let the boy go.”
Russo laughed.
“Carlo always said you were the weakest Dinaro.”
Thomas didn't react.
“Let him go.”
Russo held Marcus closer.
Then a new voice came from behind him.
“Do what he says.”
Everyone turned.
An elderly man stepped from the shadows.
Thomas went white.
Elena had been right.
Carlo Dinaro was alive.
Thomas whispered,
“Dad.”
Carlo smiled.
May you like
Then pointed a gun at Marcus.
“Unfortunately, son, Russo works for me.”
