Chapter 12 - THE MAN WE THOUGHT WAS ANTHONY
The fake Anthony Vale was found by facial recognition.
His real name was David Pierce.
Samuel’s younger brother.
Suddenly the entire structure became clear.
Samuel Pierce planned.
David executed.
Matteo believed he was protecting the Costa family.
Instead, he had been serving the men dismantling it.
Gabriel stared at the evidence board.
“One brother became my lawyer.”
Elias nodded.
“The other became your uncle’s fixer.”
“They surrounded every branch.”
“Yes.”
Norah sat beside Leo’s hospital bed.
He was recovering from dehydration but alert.
A communication specialist had given him an eye-tracking tablet.
For the first time in three years, Leo could form full sentences.
His first was:
NORAH NEEDS A HOUSE.
She laughed and cried simultaneously.
Gabriel leaned against the wall.
“I agree.”
Norah glared.
“Don’t start.”
Leo typed again.
SHE IS STUBBORN.
Gabriel smiled.
“I’ve noticed.”
Norah pointed at both of them.
“I hate this new alliance.”
Leo’s next sentence erased the humor.
PIERCE VISITED ME.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“When?”
BEFORE ACCIDENT.
“Why?”
HE WANTED FLASH DRIVE.
“Did you give it to him?”
NO.
“Did he threaten you?”
YES.
Then Leo typed something slowly.
HE ASKED ABOUT NORAH.
Norah frowned.
“Me?”
Leo continued.
HE SAID GABRIEL LIKED HER.
Everyone went silent.
Norah turned toward Gabriel.
“This was three years ago.”
Gabriel’s face remained unreadable.
Leo typed:
HE WATCHED OFFICE CAMERAS.
Norah looked at Gabriel.
“You liked me three years ago?”
Gabriel cleared his throat.
“That is not relevant.”
Elias suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
Norah stared.
“You did.”
“We’re discussing attempted murder.”
“You did.”
Gabriel sighed.
“Yes.”
Her expression changed.
“How long?”
“Norah.”
“How long?”
“Five years.”
Nobody spoke.
Even Leo’s eyes widened.
Gabriel immediately regretted being alive.
Then Leo began typing again.
PIERCE KNEW.
Gabriel focused.
“Knew what?”
HE SAID LOVE MAKES MEN PREDICTABLE.
A cold feeling entered the room.
Pierce had not targeted Norah only because of Leo.
He had targeted her because Gabriel cared about her.
Her homelessness.
The forged ledger.
The camera.
All of it was designed to force Gabriel into one of two mistakes.
Distrust her.
Or expose how much she mattered.
Then Elias’s phone rang.
His face changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We located Samuel Pierce.”
“Where?”
Elias looked at Norah.
“Inside Costa Enterprises.”
Gabriel frowned.
The tower had been locked down.
“How?”
“His legal access still works.”
“What floor?”
“The fiftieth.”
May you like
Gabriel’s office.
And security cameras showed Pierce carrying a bomb.
