Chapter 13 - THE CHOICE THAT COST HIM EVERYTHING
Nora woke to the sound of her father coughing.
She opened her eyes.
A concrete room.
A single overhead light.
Her wrists secured to the arms of a chair.
Thomas Hastings sat across from her, pale and exhausted but alive.
“Dad.”
He lifted his head.
“Nora?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I'm here.”
He tried to stand.
A guard pushed him back.
Nora fought against her restraints.
“Don't touch him!”
The guard moved toward her.
Then the door opened.
Anthony Romano entered.
“Miss Hastings.”
Nora stared at him.
“So you're the man who destroyed my mother.”
Anthony looked almost bored.
“Your mother should have accepted the settlement.”
“She wanted justice.”
“Justice is a word people use when they can't afford power.”
Nora lifted her chin.
“Then you've never understood either.”
Anthony's expression darkened.
He placed a small metal box on the table.
“Your necklace.”
Nora said nothing.
Anthony leaned closer.
“I know Victor has the key.”
“He doesn't.”
“Don't insult me.”
Before Nora could answer, the door opened again.
Adrian entered.
He looked at Anthony with open contempt.
“You said no one would hurt them.”
Anthony laughed.
“Do you still believe promises?”
Adrian's expression changed.
Nora noticed it.
For the first time, the younger Romano brother looked less like a villain and more like a man trapped inside a nightmare he had helped create.
Anthony turned toward him.
“Bring Victor here.”
Adrian didn't move.
“Father, let the woman and her father go.”
Anthony slapped him.
Adrian stumbled backward.
Nora gasped.
Anthony stepped closer.
“I spared you once because your mother begged. Don't mistake that for weakness.”
Adrian slowly straightened.
Then the room's emergency lights flashed.
An alarm sounded.
Someone had breached the building's outer security.
Victor.
Anthony grabbed Nora by the arm and pulled her from the chair.
“Move.”
Nora stumbled.
Thomas shouted her name.
Adrian stepped into the doorway.
“Enough.”
Anthony drew a pistol.
“Step aside.”
Adrian didn't.
Victor appeared at the far end of the corridor, accompanied by Leo and two security officers.
“Let her go!”
Anthony turned his weapon toward Nora.
“Drop yours.”
Victor stopped.
His eyes moved to Nora.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Don't surrender.
But Victor removed his weapon and placed it on the floor.
“Take me instead.”
Anthony laughed.
“Finally. A son who understands sacrifice.”
Victor looked at Nora.
“Are you hurt?”
She swallowed.
“No.”
“Good.”
Anthony ordered the guards to restrain him.
Victor didn't resist.
Then Anthony delivered his demand.
“Sign over the family companies, surrender Evelyn's evidence, and publicly confess to every crime committed under the Romano name.”
Victor stared at him.
“And Nora walks free?”
“Along with her father.”
Victor turned toward Rebecca Sloan, who had entered behind the security team under an agreed negotiation arrangement.
“Prepare the documents.”
Nora shook her head.
“Victor, don't.”
He looked at her with quiet certainty.
“Your life is worth more than everything he thinks he owns.”
Anthony smiled triumphantly.
But as Victor reached for the papers, Nora noticed something.
Adrian's hand was moving toward the control panel.
And the security camera above Anthony's head had begun flashing red.
May you like
They weren't negotiating anymore.
They were recording a confession.
