Chapter 12 - THE CHOICE THAT PROVED WHO DANTE REALLY WAS
The bomb was already in the hotel.
Police could not be trusted.
Half the names in Elena’s ledger belonged to law enforcement.
Dante contacted one federal prosecutor his father had trusted.
Vincent contacted the agent who originally recruited him.
Talia prepared to enter the hotel.
Dante blocked the door.
“No.”
She stared at him.
“You’ve learned nothing about me.”
“I’ve learned enough to know telling you no won’t work.”
“Good.”
“So I’m coming.”
They entered through the service level while Vincent coordinated evacuation.
Noah remained with Anthony in a secure location.
At least, that was the plan.
Then Talia received a video.
Noah tied to a chair.
Lucian Cross standing behind him.
“Bring the ledger to the boiler room,” Lucian said. “Ten minutes.”
Dante watched the screen.
“He took him again.”
Talia’s hands shook.
“How?”
“Someone compromised the safe location.”
“Mateo?”
“He’s in custody.”
Vincent’s voice came over the radio.
“Talia, do not give Cross the ledger.”
“That’s my brother.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t tell me what not to do.”
She ran.
Dante followed.
The boiler room was empty except for a phone and a metal case.
Lucian’s voice came through the speaker.
“Ledger inside. Then walk away.”
Talia put the ledger into the case.
Dante stopped her.
“If you give it to him, thousands of people stay vulnerable.”
“If I don’t, Noah dies.”
Dante stared at her.
Then he took the ledger from her hand.
Talia’s expression hardened.
“Dante.”
He placed it into the case himself.
“Your brother comes first.”
She stared at him.
“You’d give up everything?”
“An empire can be rebuilt.”
He locked the case.
“A person can’t.”
The lights went out.
A shot echoed.
Dante shoved Talia aside.
He grunted and dropped to one knee.
“Dante!”
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Talia fired toward the muzzle flash and dragged him behind machinery.
The metal case vanished into the darkness.
Cross had the ledger.
But Dante was smiling through the pain.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
He pulled a tiny transmitter from his cuff.
“I put a tracker inside the case.”
Talia stared.
May you like
Dante had surrendered the most dangerous evidence in New York.
But he had also just tricked Lucian Cross into carrying a beacon directly to his escape route.
