Chapter 16 - The Warehouse
The agents froze.
One of them looked down.
A pressure wire ran beneath a broken strip of metal.
Hale screamed for everyone to back away.
Vincent listened to the rest of Sofia’s message.
“There’s an old loading chute on the south wall. It drops behind the office. Rocco never remembers it because Uncle Carlo built it, and Rocco hated Carlo.”
Sofia had recorded the message three years ago.
She had planned for this exact place.
Vincent found the chute behind rusted machinery. Hale wanted him to stay outside.
Vincent ignored him.
Sofia grabbed Vincent’s arm before he climbed in.
“If you see Rocco, don’t let him make this about pride.”
“He kidnapped you for three years.”
“I know.”
“He hit our son.”
“I know.”
“He stole our life.”
Sofia pulled him closer.
“Then don’t give him the ending he wants.”
Vincent nodded once.
He entered the chute with Hale and two tactical agents.
Inside the warehouse, rain hammered the metal roof. The main floor was covered in old cement dust, broken pallets, and several concealed wires.
They moved along the upper office walkway.
Below, Charles Bellamy was shouting.
“You said the ledger would be here!”
Rocco answered, “It will be if the girl’s mother brings the key.”
Vincent exchanged a look with Hale.
Rocco still did not know the key was already on its way to the storage unit.
Then another voice spoke.
Isabella.
Vincent looked down.
She stood beside Rocco with a gun in her hand.
Sofia had stayed outside.
So how had Isabella gotten here first?
Charles laughed. “Finally.”
Rocco said, “Took you long enough.”
Vincent felt betrayal hit with almost physical force.
Isabella looked up toward the office walkway.
Directly at him.
Then she raised her gun and shot Charles Bellamy in the leg.
Charles collapsed screaming.
Rocco spun on her.
Isabella fired again, knocking the pistol from his hand.
“Vincent!” she shouted. “Now!”
Agents flooded the upper stairs.
Rocco kicked open a side door and disappeared into the rain.
Charles grabbed Isabella’s ankle and pulled her down.
As Vincent ran toward them, Charles hissed, “You stupid woman. You still don’t know who Sofia was working for.”
May you like
Isabella looked up at Vincent.
Neither did he.
