Chapter 10 - THE MAN BESIDE HIM
Z
Carlo did not reach for his gun.
That saved his life.
He stood completely still while Lorenzo took the weapon from the holster beneath his jacket and placed it on Naomi’s desk.
Naomi watched both men.
“Carlo.”
He looked at her.
“Did you send those flowers?”
“No.”
“Are you working for Shaw?”
“No.”
“Did you know Stefan was?”
“I didn’t know Stefan was working for anyone.”
Lorenzo remained silent.
Carlo finally turned toward him.
“You want to ask me something, ask.”
Lorenzo’s voice was low.
“Did you tell anyone about Celeste hating lilies?”
“No.”
“Did you tell anyone about the tape?”
“No.”
“Safe house?”
“No.”
“Naomi’s movements?”
“No.”
Carlo stepped closer.
“You think after Mateo I’d betray you?”
Lorenzo’s expression did not change.
“I think after Mateo I’d be a fool not to ask.”
That hurt.
Naomi saw it.
Carlo did too.
But unlike Mateo, Carlo did not turn the hurt into anger.
He nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
Naomi walked around the desk.
“Then we figure out what Stefan meant.”
Carlo looked at the burner.
“He may be trying to divide us.”
“So was Mateo.”
Lorenzo’s eyes stayed on Carlo.
“And it worked because nobody asked enough questions.”
Naomi picked up the burner phone.
“Then this time we ask.”
They traced Stefan’s movements backward.
Security footage showed him leaving the west office at eight thirty-seven.
At eight forty-five he entered a parking garage near Paddington.
At eight fifty-one, he exited in a different vehicle.
At nine thirteen, his second phone pinged near King’s Cross.
Then disappeared.
Carlo spent an hour calling old contacts.
Nothing.
Lorenzo grew quieter with every dead end.
Naomi recognized the pattern.
When Lorenzo shouted, people were safe.
When he went silent, someone usually regretted existing.
At noon, a message arrived.
Stefan.
ST PANCRAS. LOCKER 214.
COME WITHOUT CARLO.
Lorenzo read it twice.
Carlo smiled bitterly.
“Convenient.”
Naomi looked at Lorenzo.
“You’re not actually leaving him behind.”
“Yes.”
Carlo’s jaw tightened.
“Boss—”
“If this is a trap, I need you outside.”
That changed the meaning.
Carlo nodded.
Twenty minutes later, Lorenzo and Naomi walked through St Pancras station.
Travelers dragged luggage beneath the enormous glass roof.
Announcements echoed.
A violinist played near one of the cafes.
Nobody noticed the armed security officers dressed like commuters.
Nobody noticed Carlo fifty yards behind them.
Lorenzo had lied.
He was not leaving Carlo behind.
He was keeping him close enough to help and far enough away to satisfy whoever was watching.
Naomi leaned toward him.
“You’re learning.”
“What?”
“Compromise.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Locker 214 sat near the lower concourse.
Lorenzo opened it.
Inside was a small envelope.
No weapon.
No phone.
One photograph.
Naomi.
Taken two days earlier.
She was leaving the foundation.
A red circle had been drawn around her head.
On the back, four words.
ASK CARLO ABOUT MARA.
Lorenzo stared.
Naomi looked at him.
“Who’s Mara?”
He did not answer immediately.
“Lorenzo.”
“Carlo’s wife.”
Naomi blinked.
“Carlo’s married?”
“Was.”
“What happened?”
“She died six years ago.”
“How?”
“Car accident.”
The way he said it made Naomi understand.
“That’s not the full story.”
“No.”
Lorenzo pulled out his phone.
Carlo answered immediately.
“You find something?”
“Mara.”
Silence.
Too long.
Naomi watched Lorenzo’s face.
Carlo finally spoke.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Lorenzo’s eyes hardened.
“Answer the question.”
“What question?”
“Was Mara’s death an accident?”
Silence again.
Then Carlo said quietly, “No.”
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
“What happened?”
“Not over the phone.”
“Then get here.”
Ten minutes later, Carlo joined them inside an empty service corridor.
He looked older than he had that morning.
Naomi stood beside Lorenzo.
Carlo glanced at her.
“She should hear this.”
Lorenzo folded his arms.
“Talk.”
Carlo leaned against the wall.
“Mara worked financial compliance for one of Shaw’s companies.”
Lorenzo’s expression changed.
“What?”
“Before I worked for you full-time.”
“You told me she worked in insurance.”
“She did. That was the cover.”
Naomi watched Carlo carefully.
“What did she find?”
“Payments.”
Carlo rubbed his face.
“Shaw was paying customs officers, politicians, shipping executives. Mara copied the records.”
“And?”
“She came to me because she was scared.”
“Why didn’t you tell Lorenzo?”
Carlo looked directly at him.
“Because six years ago, you and Shaw were killing each other’s men every month. If I told you, you would have gone to war.”
Lorenzo laughed without humor.
“We were already at war.”
“Not like that.”
Carlo continued.
“Mara wanted out. We planned to leave.”
“What happened?”
“Someone found out.”
Naomi already knew.
“She was killed.”
Carlo nodded.
“Brake line.”
The station announcement sounded above them.
Everything felt strangely ordinary.
Lorenzo stared at his second-in-command.
“And you never told me.”
“I hunted the man responsible.”
“Who?”
Carlo looked away.
“Stefan’s older brother.”
Naomi’s stomach tightened.
Lorenzo understood immediately.
“That’s why Stefan joined us.”
Carlo nodded.
“He didn’t know.”
“You’re sure?”
“I was.”
The burner phone rang.
All three looked at it.
Lorenzo answered.
Stefan’s voice came through.
“You found out.”
“Where are you?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“You sent the message about Carlo.”
“Yes.”
“You think he killed your brother.”
“I know he did.”
Carlo closed his eyes.
Stefan continued.
“My brother was Shaw’s driver. Not an assassin. Carlo shot him in an alley and left him there.”
Carlo spoke toward the phone.
“He helped murder my wife.”
“He drove a car.”
“He knew what was happening.”
“You don’t know that.”
Lorenzo stepped between them.
“Stefan.”
Silence.
“Are you working for Shaw?”
“No.”
“Then who sent the lilies?”
A pause.
Stefan’s breathing changed.
“I followed the courier.”
“And?”
“He works for someone inside your legitimate company.”
Naomi looked at Lorenzo.
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
A sharp sound came through the phone.
A door.
Then Stefan whispered, “Wait.”
Gunfire exploded.
The call cut.
Lorenzo shouted his name.
Nothing.
Carlo looked stricken.
Naomi stared at the dead phone.
Then a final message arrived.
A location pin.
East London.
And one sentence.
HE KNOWS ABOUT THE GIRL.
Naomi felt ice move through her.
“What girl?”
Lorenzo looked at Carlo.
Carlo looked away.
That was enough.
Naomi stepped toward him.
“Carlo.”
May you like
His face collapsed.
“Mara had a daughter.”
