Chapter 7 - THE DEAL IN THE DARK
The greenhouse was made of reinforced glass, but it wasn't designed to withstand a military-grade assault.
By the time Luca and I sprinted across the lawn, Salvatore’s men had already surrounded the terrified guests.
Standing in the center of the botanical garden, holding a silver-handled walking cane, was Don Salvatore. He was a man in his late sixties, impeccably dressed, looking completely bored by the chaos around him.
Daniel and the remaining Moretti guards had their weapons drawn, but they were hopelessly outnumbered by Salvatore’s syndicate soldiers.
“Luca, my boy,” Salvatore smiled as Luca stormed into the greenhouse. “You throw a terrible party.”
“Call off your dogs, Salvatore,” Luca growled, keeping me slightly behind him. “Arthur Vance is dead. Your little heist failed.”
“Arthur was a blunt instrument,” Salvatore waved his hand dismissively. “I only used him to get past your gates. I don't care about the vault, Luca. I came for what belongs to me.”
Salvatore’s cold eyes shifted directly to me.
Answer one: Salvatore didn't care about Luca’s wealth. He wanted the specific fortune my father had stolen ten years ago to restore his own bruised ego.
“Hand over the girl,” Salvatore ordered. “And I’ll let your guests go home.”
“The girl is under my protection,” Luca said, his voice echoing off the glass walls. “You take one step toward her, and I will burn your entire organization to the ground.”
The tension was suffocating. I looked at Mateo, who was crying in the arms of an older guest nearby.
I couldn't let innocent people die for my father’s sins.
I stepped out from behind Luca.
“Claire, no,” Luca warned softly, grabbing my wrist.
I pulled my hand away gently. “I have what you want, Salvatore.”
I held up the child’s crayon drawing.
Salvatore’s eyes narrowed. “A piece of paper?”
“It’s a map to the two million dollars my father stole from you,” I said, my voice projecting clearly despite the terror freezing my veins. “I’ll give it to you. But you have to leave this estate right now. And you swear on your syndicate honor that you will never touch the Moretti family again.”
Salvatore chuckled, a dry, raspy sound.
“You have spirit, little maid. I’ll give you that,” Salvatore said. “But why should I make a deal with you? I have eighty armed men. I can just kill you and take the paper.”
Open two: How do I force a syndicate boss to honor a deal?
I didn't blink. I raised my hands, and with a swift, deliberate motion, I tore the crayon drawing straight down the middle.
The entire greenhouse gasped.
I shoved one half of the torn paper into my mouth and swallowed it.
Salvatore’s smug smile vanished instantly.
“Are you insane?” Salvatore roared, slamming his cane against the stone path.
“I memorized it,” I said smoothly, forcing the dry paper down my throat. “Now the map only exists in my head. If you kill me, you lose the money forever. You want it? You make the deal.”
Luca stared at me in absolute awe.
Salvatore glared at me, his jaw clenched tight. He looked at the remaining half of the paper in my hand, realizing he was utterly beaten by a twenty-five-year-old housekeeper.
“Fine,” Salvatore spat. “You have my word. We leave the estate. But you are coming with me to retrieve the money.”
“No,” Luca stepped forward, his gun raised. “She stays here.”
“If I don't go, he won't leave, Luca,” I whispered urgently, turning to him. “I have to do this.”
“I won't let you walk into the dark with him, Claire,” Luca said, his voice breaking with genuine desperation.
“I’ll be okay,” I promised, touching his arm. “Keep Mateo safe.”
I turned and walked toward Salvatore. His men surrounded me, pushing me out of the greenhouse and toward a waiting black SUV.
As they shoved me into the backseat, the heavy door slammed shut.
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Sitting in the front seat, turning around to look at me with a cold, terrifying smile, was Vanessa.
TITLE: THE RIDE TO THE RIVER
