Chapter 5 - a false answer
The black heavy-duty SUVs tore through the industrial gates of the abandoned Queens iron foundry, their headlights cutting through the thick fog off the East River.
Victor stepped out into the rain, wearing a black tactical vest over his tuxedo shirt. Marco and six heavily armed Moretti enforcers moved in tight formation behind him, weapons drawn.
They kicked open the heavy corrugated steel doors of the main warehouse.
Inside, tied to a wooden chair under a single dangling halogen light, was Celeste. Her crimson dress was torn, her makeup smeared with tears.
Standing ten feet away, leaning casually against a steel pillar, was Underboss Marcus—Victor's trusted second-in-command, who had allegedly been coordinating security at the mansion fifteen minutes ago.
Victor stopped ten paces away, his weapon aimed squarely at Marcus's chest. "Marcus. Where is Sal? Where is Julian?"
Marcus didn't draw a weapon. He raised his hands slowly, a weary, bitter smile touching his lips.
"They aren't here, Victor," Marcus said quietly. "It was a setup to get you out of the mansion."
Celeste sobbed from the chair. "He made me call you, Victor! He threatened to shoot me!"
"Shut up, Celeste!" Victor growled without taking his eyes off Marcus. "Explain yourself, Marcus. Eight years of loyalty... for what?"
"Eight years of watching you grow soft!" Marcus spat back, his voice rising with emotion. "Ever since Clara died, you've been obsessed with protecting that little girl instead of taking over the five families! Sal Moretti offered me thirty percent of the dock revenue if I helped him remove Ellie from the inheritance line!"
"You forged the DNA report?" Victor asked, his voice dangerously soft.
"I paid a lab technician fifty thousand dollars to print it!" Marcus admitted. "I gave it to Celeste so she'd use it to strip Ellie's trust fund! It was all me, Victor! Julian had nothing to do with it! Julian is still in Europe!"
Victor took two slow steps forward, towering over Marcus. The truth seemed clear: Marcus was the traitor, motivated by greed and power, using Celeste as a willing pawn to destroy Ellie's future.
"You broke your oath to this family, Marcus," Victor said softly.
"Do it then," Marcus sneered, looking him straight in the eye. "Shoot me."
Victor lowered his weapon slightly and gestured to Marco. "Strip his weapons and lock him in the basement cellar at the estate. He’s going to face the syndicate council tomorrow."
"Yes, Don Victor," Marco said, signaling two men to drag Marcus out.
Victor walked over to Celeste, cutting her ropes with his pocket knife. She collapsed into his arms, sobbing hysterically. "Oh thank you, Victor! Thank you! I was so wrong about everything!"
Victor pulled her up by her arm, his face stone cold. "You're still going to answer for what you did to Ellie."
As they walked toward the warehouse exit, Victor noticed Marcus's tactical coat lying on a wooden crate near the door. A small silver digital voice recorder was sticking out of the pocket.
Victor picked up the recorder and pressed play.
May you like
A high-pitched static hissed from the small speaker, followed by Marcus's voice recorded earlier that afternoon:
"Don Sal, Victor swallowed the bait. He thinks I'm the only traitor. He has no idea that Clara’s real biological child is currently living in his own house under a different name."
