Chapter 6 - THE CALL FROM THE DEAD
Tommy placed the call on speaker.
Static filled the room.
Then a woman’s voice whispered, “Roman.”
Roman moved closer to the phone.
“Elena. Where are you?”
“Don’t ask.”
“Are you alive?”
“For now.”
Norah’s hand tightened around the edge of the table.
Roman’s voice became controlled.
“Who is hunting Norah?”
A pause.
“Your brother.”
Roman’s face emptied.
“I don’t have a brother.”
“You do.”
Norah stared at him.
Elena continued, “Your father had another son. His name is Gabriel.”
Roman looked toward Tommy.
“Find everything.”
Tommy immediately left the room.
Roman returned his attention to the phone.
“Where is Gabriel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because he has the ledger.”
Norah stepped forward.
“What does he want?”
Elena’s voice became strained.
“He wants Roman to surrender control of the waterfront.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“And if I refuse?”
“He’ll destroy everyone connected to you.”
Norah’s face paled.
Elena continued, “He believes Norah knows where the key opens.”
“I don’t,” Norah said.
“You do. You just don’t remember.”
The call crackled.
Roman leaned closer.
“Elena, listen to me. Tell me where you are.”
A sharp sound came through the speaker.
A door opening.
Elena gasped.
“He found me.”
Roman’s voice sharpened.
“Who?”
A man’s voice spoke in the background.
“Hello, Roman.”
Roman went completely still.
The voice continued.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to meet the woman who made you weak.”
Norah’s breathing stopped.
Roman looked at her.
“Gabriel.”
The man laughed.
“You always were clever.”
A muffled struggle followed.
Then Elena screamed.
The call ended.
Roman turned to Tommy’s returning footsteps.
“Find her.”
Tommy nodded.
Norah stood frozen beside the table.
Roman approached her carefully.
“Norah.”
She stepped away.
“Your brother knows about me.”
“Yes.”
“He knows where I work.”
“Yes.”
“He knows I have the key.”
Roman’s expression tightened.
“I won’t let him hurt you.”
She shook her head.
“You keep saying that.”
“I mean it.”
“That doesn’t make it true.”
Roman stopped.
Norah’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t need another man making promises while people bleed around me.”
Roman lowered his gaze.
Then he said, “You’re right.”
May you like
She looked at him.
“I’m going to prove it instead.”
