Chapter 12 - The Betrayal Inside Roman’s House
The guard’s name was Tomas Reed.
Roman had trusted him for six years.
Tomas hadn’t betrayed him for money.
Vincent had threatened his brother.
That didn’t erase what he did.
But it explained it.
Tomas had given Vincent schedules.
Security rotations.
Guest lists.
Information about Lily’s appointments.
Roman listened to the confession without interruption.
Then asked one question.
“Did you tell him about Clare?”
My stomach tightened.
Tomas looked at me.
“Yes.”
Roman’s face went blank.
“How much?”
“Where she lived. Her schedule. The bakery.”
I saw Roman’s hands curl.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Roman.”
“I’m sitting.”
“Stay that way.”
Tomas began crying.
“I never wanted anyone hurt.”
Roman looked at him.
“You gave him Lily’s movements.”
“He said—”
“I don’t care what he said.”
“Roman,” I warned.
He closed his eyes.
When they reopened, the rage was still there.
But controlled.
“Tell Daniel everything.”
Tomas nodded.
Roman left the room.
I followed.
He stood in the hallway.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Tell me I handled it well.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“I wanted to break his jaw.”
“I know.”
“I still do.”
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“I hate this version of change.”
“What version?”
“The one where I have to feel everything instead of solving it.”
I laughed softly.
“That’s called being a person.”
“It’s inefficient.”
“Terribly.”
He leaned against the wall.
“Vincent knew where you lived.”
“Yes.”
“He could have—”
“But he didn’t.”
“Clare.”
“No imaginary tragedies.”
His expression hardened.
“I brought you into this.”
I was tired of that sentence.
“You didn’t make me stay.”
“I gave you incomplete information.”
“And I stayed after I had complete information.”
“You don’t have complete information.”
“Then tell me.”
Roman went still.
I realized there was something else.
“Tell me.”
He looked away.
“Years ago, before I started dismantling my father’s operations, I ordered things.”
“What things?”
“Threats. Collections. Destruction of property.”
I swallowed.
“Did you kill anyone?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“I’ve been responsible for violence.”
“That isn’t exactly better.”
“I know.”
“Did Lily know?”
“No.”
“Does Elena’s letter change what happened?”
“No.”
“Does cooperating change it?”
“No.”
“Then why tell me now?”
“Because you kissed me.”
My anger softened against my will.
Roman continued.
“I will not let you care about a version of me that isn’t real.”
That sentence mattered more than any romantic declaration could have.
I stepped closer.
“I don’t know what this becomes.”
“Neither do I.”
“But if there is anything else, tell me before I discover it.”
“Yes.”
“No protecting me from truth.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
His mouth almost smiled.
“You enjoy rules.”
“I enjoy watching you follow them.”
We returned to the main room.
Daniel had news.
Vincent was communicating with someone through a prepaid phone.
They had located the signal near North Harbor.
The same warehouse in Elena’s photograph.
A federal operation was planned.
Roman was ordered to stay away.
He objected.
Lily said, “Mom told you to listen.”
He stayed.
At 2:17 the next morning Daniel’s phone rang.
Everyone woke.
Agents had entered the warehouse.
Vincent wasn’t there.
But they found the original handwritten ledger.
And an audio recorder.
Elena’s voice was on it.
Lily refused to listen.
Roman didn’t.
He sat alone with headphones.
When he finished, his face was wet.
I had never seen him cry.
He removed the headphones.
“What did she say?”
Roman wiped his face.
“She recorded Vincent threatening her.”
Daniel looked stunned.
“Explicitly?”
“Yes.”
“What words?”
Roman stared at the table.
“He said if she took the ledger to authorities, he would make certain Lily grew up without a mother.”
Sophia covered her mouth.
Lily walked into the room.
She had heard.
Roman stood.
“I’m sorry.”
Lily looked at him.
Then at the recorder.
“He killed her.”
“We don’t know exactly what happened.”
She stared.
Roman almost smiled sadly.
“I know. You hate that sentence.”
“Yeah.”
“But we know enough to prove he threatened her.”
“And the accident?”
Daniel answered.
“We’re reopening it.”
Lily nodded.
She didn’t cry.
Not yet.
Instead she looked at Roman.
“What happens when they find him?”
“He goes to court.”
“No revenge?”
Roman looked at his niece.
Then at me.
“No revenge.”
That may have been the hardest promise he ever made.
And Vincent was about to test it.
Because an hour later my phone rang.
Unknown number.
May you like
I answered.
Vincent Caruso said, “Tell Roman I’m ready to trade.”
