Chapter 9 - The Missing Sister
“Lucia!”
I ran into the corridor.
Nothing.
Marco’s men swept the building.
Five minutes later, one of them returned.
“Rear exit.”
I followed the footprints.
Wet shoe marks.
One set.
No blood.
No struggle.
She had left willingly.
That was worse.
I called her.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then her phone vibrated.
One message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR MOTHER.
Attached was a photograph.
Lucia stood inside a dark room.
Behind her was a brick wall.
A red snake painted across it.
I stared at the image.
Marco looked over my shoulder.
“Boss…”
“I know.”
“She may be working with them.”
“No.”
“You saw the message.”
“I saw the message.”
“And the photo.”
“She could be a hostage.”
Marco looked at me.
“Then why did she leave the building alone?”
I didn't answer.
Because I had no idea.
We traced the photograph.
A warehouse in Brooklyn.
Kolov territory.
We arrived with twenty men.
The doors were unlocked.
Inside was empty.
Except for one chair.
And an audio recorder.
I pressed play.
Lucia’s voice filled the warehouse.
“Dominic, if you hear this, do not come looking for me.”
I froze.
“I know you think I betrayed you.”
A pause.
“I did.”
Marco looked at me.
I kept listening.
“I gave Kolov information.”
My chest tightened.
“Not because I wanted to.”
She continued.
“Because they had Emma.”
I closed my eyes.
“So she really was kidnapped?”
Marco whispered.
“Yes.”
I listened.
“They took her six months ago. I found out she was alive. I tried to get her back.”
The recording crackled.
“I made one mistake.”
Silence.
“I trusted Carlo.”
My head snapped up.
My dead uncle.
Lucia continued.
“Carlo was working with Kolov.”
Impossible.
He had died eight years ago.
Unless he wasn't.
The recorder suddenly changed.
A man spoke.
“You should have killed your uncle when you had the chance, Dominic.”
Kolov.
His voice was unmistakable.
I stepped toward the recorder.
“Where is Lucia?”
A laugh.
“She is closer than you think.”
The recording ended.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Kolov spoke.
“Dominic.”
“Where is my sister?”
“With someone who knows you better than anyone.”
“Give her back.”
“Bring me the ledger.”
“No.”
“Then Lucia dies.”
I stared at the dark warehouse.
“You’re scared.”
He laughed.
“No.”
“You need the ledger.”
“I need something inside the ledger.”
“What?”
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“That your family murdered mine.”
I remained silent.
Kolov continued.
“Tomorrow at midnight.”
“Where?”
“Your mansion.”
My jaw tightened.
“You’re coming into my house?”
“No.”
He laughed.
“You are going to invite me.”
The call ended.
Marco looked at me.
“You’re thinking of letting him in.”
“Yes.”
“That’s dangerous.”
I looked at the bloodstained crest folded inside my pocket.
“He wants the ledger.”
“Then give it to him.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
I opened the ledger.
Every page contained names.
Every name connected to money.
Every transaction mapped a network spanning two decades.
Then I found something I had never noticed.
A second compartment beneath the binding.
Inside was a small key.
And a note.
ONE OF THEM IS STILL ALIVE.
I stared at the words.
Then at the photograph of my supposedly dead uncle.
Carlo.
My father’s oldest brother.
The man I had buried eight years ago.
I suddenly understood why Kolov wanted the ledger.
Not to expose the Castellanos.
To find Carlo.
May you like
And if Carlo was alive…
He had been hiding in plain sight.
