Chapter 7 - THE ROOM BENEATH THE CHURCH
The brass key opened a hidden compartment beneath an abandoned church in Fells Point.
Roman had known about the church for years.
He had never known about the room beneath it.
Norah stood beside him as Tommy removed a rusted metal panel from the floor.
A narrow staircase descended into darkness.
“You’re sure you want to go down there?” Roman asked.
Norah gave him a look.
“You brought six armed men.”
“They’re outside.”
“Then you’re the only person here who thinks I’m fragile.”
Roman didn’t answer.
They descended together.
The room below contained old filing cabinets, wooden crates, and a steel desk covered in dust.
Norah moved toward the desk.
A small symbol had been carved into its surface.
The same rose-shaped mark that appeared on the brass key.
She inserted the key into a hidden lock.
The desk clicked open.
Inside was a leather-bound ledger.
Roman stared at it.
Norah carefully lifted it out.
“Is this what everyone wants?”
Roman nodded.
She opened the first page.
Names filled the paper.
Payments.
Dates.
Locations.
Several names were crossed out in red.
Then Norah saw one she recognized.
Arthur Lombardi.
Her restaurant manager.
She turned the page.
There were photographs.
Roman’s father.
Victor.
Gabriel.
And Arthur.
Together.
Norah’s breath caught.
“Arthur worked for them.”
Roman took the ledger.
His eyes moved rapidly across the pages.
“Arthur was never just a manager.”
“Then why did he hire me?”
Roman looked at her.
“Because he knew who you were.”
Her stomach twisted.
“He knew I was Norah?”
“He may have known you were connected to me.”
Norah shook her head.
“No. He was always watching me. He asked where I lived. Who I spoke to. Whether I had family.”
Roman’s expression became murderous.
A sound echoed from above.
Footsteps.
Both of them froze.
Roman immediately moved in front of Norah.
“Stay behind me.”
“Roman—”
“Now.”
The lights in the room flickered.
A voice drifted down the staircase.
“You always did hide behind women, little brother.”
Roman looked toward the darkness.
Gabriel appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
He looked almost identical to Roman, but his smile carried none of Roman’s restraint.
Two men stood behind him with guns.
Gabriel’s gaze moved to Norah.
“So this is the woman who disappeared.”
Norah held the ledger tightly.
Gabriel smiled.
“Give it to me, and I might let you both leave alive.”
Roman’s voice was cold.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
Gabriel laughed.
“And you should have died on Interstate 95.”
Norah looked at Roman.
His face had gone completely still.
Gabriel raised his gun.
“Now kneel.”
Roman moved forward.
Norah suddenly threw the ledger toward the opposite wall.
Everyone turned.
May you like
She grabbed Roman’s arm.
“Run!”
