Chapter 9 - THE WATCH ON GABRIEL'S WRIST
Gabriel vomited in the bathroom.
Norah heard.
She did not follow.
Some grief must be private.
When he returned, the watch sat sealed in evidence plastic.
He looked older.
“My father gave it to me.”
“I know.”
“He said it belonged to an old associate.”
“I know.”
Norah’s voice was quiet.
Not cruel.
Daniel’s watch connected Salvatore directly to the aftermath.
Why would Gabriel’s father possess it?
Old ledgers answered.
After Daniel’s death, Vittorio gave Salvatore personal effects taken from the car.
Proof the problem was handled.
Salvatore kept the watch.
Then gifted it to Gabriel.
Maybe deliberate humiliation.
Maybe carelessness.
Either way grotesque.
Then another hidden compartment inside the watch was discovered.
Daniel had modified it.
Micro-storage wafer.
One final encrypted file.
Norah knew the password.
Her childhood nickname:
NORI.
The recording opened.
Daniel speaking hurriedly.
“If you find this, Salvatore knows Vittorio is stealing from him, but he thinks he can control it.”
Then:
“Gabriel is being prepared to inherit a lie.”
Daniel had seen younger Gabriel as dangerous but not yet irredeemable.
Then came the bombshell.
“Vittorio is not trying to take over the Costa family.”
“He already owns it.”
How?
Debt.
For twenty years, Vittorio had quietly purchased Costa obligations through shell lenders.
Mortgages.
Private loans.
Vendor financing.
If triggered, he could seize legitimate assets.
Salvatore knew partially.
Tolerated it because Vittorio kept criminal cash flowing.
Gabriel inherited an empire financially dependent on his uncle.
That was why Vittorio could manipulate everything.
But if Gabriel voluntarily separated criminal holdings and forced transparent restructuring, Vittorio’s hidden leverage could collapse.
Exactly what Gabriel was now doing.
Daniel had predicted the solution eight years earlier.
Then the file ended with a personal message.
“Norah, if you ever hear this, I’m sorry I brought you near them.”
She cried.
“I chose this.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
She wiped her face.
“At first for him.”
Then:
“Later for you.”
That hurt both of them.
Then Luca entered.
“We found Vittorio.”
Chicago?
No.
He had crossed into Wisconsin.
Destination:
A private pediatric clinic.
Why?
Mateo’s adoptive family was there for an appointment.
Vittorio was going after the nine-year-old first.
Federal agents contacted the Morenos.
Clinic locked down.
Vittorio never appeared.
Decoy.
His actual location?
Eleanor’s farmhouse.
The twins.
Gabriel went white.
They called.
No answer.
Security camera disconnected.
Norah stood too fast.
Postpartum pain folded her.
Gabriel caught her.
She shoved him away.
“My babies.”
Then Eleanor texted one word.
May you like
CELLAR.
Vittorio was inside the farmhouse.
