Page 131 of Pietro
"About time." Declan sounds smug, riding high on perceived victory. "I knew you'd see reason."
"I need proof of life first."
"She's alive."
"Put her on."
Shuffling sounds. A door creaking. Footsteps on stairs. Then?—
"Hello, dad."
Nora's voice drives a spike through my chest. Hoarse. Exhausted. But underneath the pain, that core of steel that made me fall for her still rings clear.
"Nora. Are you?—"
"I'm exactly where I chose to be." She coughs, wet and painful. "Don't make any deals for me."
"This isn't your choice anymore, princess." Declan's voice carries that casual cruelty I'm going to carve out of him piece by piece. "Your father and I are discussing your future."
"My future doesn't include you."
A sharpcrackechoes through the speaker. Flesh hitting flesh.
I lunge to my feet, the chair crashing to the floor behind me. My hand goes to the Glock at my back. I'd kill everyone in this room to get to him.
"Enough!" Connor's voice is a whip crack, pulling me back from the brink. "Declan, we'll meet tomorrow. Noon. The old Southside warehouse on 43rd."
"Bring the marriage documents," Declan says. "And prepare to discuss territory divisions with Sartori."
"Understood. Keep her alive until then."
The line goes dead. For ten seconds, nobody moves. Then Connor's voice returns, just for us.
"He'll have six men with him. Former Murphy soldiers who sided with him over family loyalty. The warehouse has three entrances—main loading dock, side personnel door, and roof access."
"You're feeding me intelligence on your own lieutenant?" I keep my voice neutral despite the adrenaline flooding my system.
"Former lieutenant. The moment he laid hands on her in violence, he ceased being family." Connor pauses. "I may be many things, Sartori, but I'm not a man who lets anyone torture his kids. Even if she’s not my real daughter. I raised her, I love her and I want what’s best for her. Even if she's chosen you over us."
"She didn't choose me over family. She chose life over the death sentence you handed her when you blamed her for Declan's betrayal."
"Perhaps." Connor's admission surprises me. "I've had thirty-six hours to reconsider many things. Finn has been... clear about my failures as a father."
Finn shifts in his chair but stays silent.
"What do you need from me?" I ask.
"Eight of your best soldiers. Men who can move quiet and kill clean. I'll bring the same. We go in from two sides. Your team from the loading dock, mine from the roof. No one walks out except Nora."
"And Declan?"
"Declan dies slowly enough to understand his mistakes but quickly enough that we're gone before cops arrive."
I pour another whiskey, this time filling two glasses. Slide one across to Finn. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because right now, I want Declan dead more than I want you dead. That's the only truth that matters."
Lorenzo appears in the doorway, having heard enough to understand. His expression asks the question silently. I nod.
