Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT CHLOE TRIED TO LEAVE
Chloe packed before sunrise.
One suitcase.
Tommy’s medicine.
Their parents’ photograph.
Nothing else mattered.
She moved silently through the estate.
Tommy waited near the service entrance wearing a coat over pajamas.
“This is a bad idea,” he whispered.
“It’s the only idea.”
“Victor is going to lose his mind.”
“That’s why we leave before he wakes up.”
Tommy looked skeptical.
“You think that man sleeps?”
Chloe almost laughed.
Then remembered the first night.
Five hours beside her.
The longest sleep of his life.
Her chest hurt.
“Come on.”
They reached the garage.
Mrs. Gable was standing beside the door.
Chloe stopped.
The older woman wore a robe and slippers.
She held a cup of coffee.
“Going somewhere?”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“Please don’t stop me.”
“I have no intention of physically stopping you.”
“Thank you.”
“I called Mr. Russo.”
Chloe stared.
“Why?”
“Because I have no intention of dying either.”
Footsteps came from behind them.
Victor.
No jacket.
No shoes.
Dark trousers and a white shirt hastily buttoned.
He looked furious.
“No.”
Chloe turned.
“You don’t get to say that.”
Victor pointed toward Tommy.
“Back upstairs.”
Tommy glanced at Chloe.
She sighed.
“Go.”
Tommy disappeared with Mrs. Gable.
Victor waited until they were alone.
“Explain.”
“I’m leaving.”
“I gathered.”
“This started because of me.”
“No.”
“My parents were connected to the Rossi family somehow.”
“We don’t know how.”
“Your brother used Tommy.”
“That is Luca’s fault.”
“He attacked your mother because we went there.”
“Also Luca’s fault.”
“People keep getting hurt.”
Victor stepped closer.
“That does not make you responsible.”
“If I disappear—”
Victor laughed once.
It sounded dangerous.
“You think I’ll stop looking?”
“You have to.”
“No.”
“Victor.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“You can’t keep me here.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
He was standing between her and the door.
He did not move.
Chloe’s eyes filled.
“This is exactly what I was afraid of.”
His anger faded.
“What?”
“Becoming something you think you need to protect.”
Victor’s voice softened.
“You are.”
“I’m a person.”
“I know that.”
“Then let me make my own decision.”
He looked away.
For a man who controlled buildings, unions, contracts, and men with guns, the concept of letting someone he cared about walk into danger was almost impossible.
Chloe took his hand.
He looked down.
“I’m not leaving because I don’t care.”
“That makes it worse.”
“I’m leaving because I do.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
She continued.
“Luca wants to destroy you.”
“He’ll fail.”
“He doesn’t need to kill you.”
Victor looked at her.
“He only needs to hurt people you love.”
The word hung there.
Love.
Neither breathed.
Victor finally said, “Who said I love you?”
Chloe flinched.
He hated himself instantly.
She released his hand.
“Exactly.”
She walked toward the door.
Victor caught her wrist.
Not hard.
Desperate.
“Chloe.”
She did not turn.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you should.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Victor Russo had faced loaded weapons with steadier hands than he had now.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
She turned.
“Do what?”
“This.”
He gestured helplessly between them.
“Care about someone without trying to control every possible outcome.”
Her expression softened.
Victor continued.
“Every person I’ve loved has disappeared, died, lied, or become someone I didn’t recognize.”
“I’m not them.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like I am.”
He nodded slowly.
She waited.
Finally he stepped away from the door.
It cost him more than she understood.
“You can leave.”
Chloe swallowed.
Victor continued.
“But before you do, I need you to know something.”
“What?”
“If you disappear, Luca will still find you.”
Her face tightened.
“So staying makes me safer?”
“Staying where I can protect you does.”
“That sounds convenient.”
“It’s also true.”
He took out his phone.
“Marco found the police report from your parents’ accident.”
Chloe froze.
“What?”
“The driver who hit them was named Peter Dawson.”
“I know.”
“He was drunk.”
“Yes.”
“That part was true.”
She waited.
“He had another passenger.”
Chloe frowned.
“The report said he was alone.”
“The report was altered.”
“Who was the passenger?”
Victor looked at her.
“Anthony Rossi.”
The name meant nothing.
Until Victor added, “Antonio Rossi’s younger brother.”
Chloe sat down slowly on a bench.
“Why were they following my parents?”
“We don’t know.”
“My parents were accountants.”
“Your father was.”
“My mother taught elementary school.”
Victor crouched in front of her despite the wound in his side.
“Your father worked one year for a shipping company before you were born.”
She looked at him.
“What company?”
“Russo Maritime.”
Chloe stared.
Victor continued carefully.
“My father’s company.”
Her face drained.
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s in tax records.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Maybe he wanted you safe.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That worked well.”
Victor had no answer.
Chloe covered her face.
“My whole life…”
He touched her knee.
She lowered her hands.
“I thought they died because someone made one horrible stupid decision.”
Victor said nothing.
“Now you’re telling me it might have been intentional?”
“We don’t know that yet.”
“But you think it.”
“Yes.”
She began crying.
Not dramatically.
Silent tears.
Victor sat beside her.
Chloe leaned against him.
His arm went around her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Eventually she whispered, “I hate your family.”
Victor kissed the top of her head.
“Reasonable.”
She laughed through tears.
Then looked at him.
“I’m staying.”
Victor exhaled.
“But.”
He stiffened.
“There are conditions.”
“Of course there are.”
“No ordering me around unless bullets are actively flying.”
“That feels overly specific.”
“Victor.”
“Fine.”
“You tell me the truth.”
He hesitated.
“That may be difficult.”
“Then practice.”
“And?”
“You stop paying Tommy’s medical bills secretly.”
Victor looked offended.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The hospital balance became zero yesterday.”
“A clerical miracle.”
“Victor.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
“I will repay you.”
“No.”
“Condition three.”
“You have already exceeded your authority.”
She gave him a look.
He surrendered.
“Fine.”
“I will repay you.”
“We’ll discuss it.”
“No. We’re discussing it now.”
“Chloe.”
She smiled.
Victor realized she had tricked him into arguing about money instead of leaving.
He admired her.
By that afternoon, Marco had uncovered another secret.
Chloe’s father, Robert Bennett, had not been an ordinary accountant.
He had performed internal audits for Russo Maritime eighteen years earlier.
During that time, he discovered money missing from multiple accounts.
Payments to companies controlled by Antonio Rossi.
Robert reported the discrepancies to Victor’s father.
Two weeks later, he resigned.
Five years after that, he and his wife died in the crash.
Chloe read the file twice.
“Could my father have known about Luca?”
Victor leaned against the desk.
“Possibly.”
“Or Antonio?”
“Yes.”
Tommy looked up from the couch.
“What if Dad kept evidence?”
Everyone turned.
Chloe frowned.
“Evidence where?”
“I don’t know.”
Tommy shrugged.
“But Dad saved everything.”
“He didn’t.”
“He did.”
“Tommy, we moved after they died. I went through every box.”
“Not the blue toolbox.”
Chloe froze.
“What blue toolbox?”
“The one in the storage locker.”
She stared.
“What storage locker?”
Tommy looked confused.
“The one Dad took me to.”
Victor straightened.
“When?”
“Before they died.”
Tommy’s face changed as memory surfaced.
“He told me if anything ever happened, I should tell Chloe when I got old enough.”
Chloe whispered, “You never told me.”
“I forgot.”
“You forgot?”
“I was ten!”
Fair.
Victor asked, “Do you remember where?”
Tommy nodded slowly.
“Cicero.”
They found the storage facility before dark.
Unit 318.
Chloe still possessed one of her father’s old keyrings.
A small brass key opened the lock.
Inside were ordinary boxes.
Christmas decorations.
Children’s clothes.
A broken lamp.
Then the blue toolbox.
Victor opened it.
Tools on top.
False bottom underneath.
Inside were ledgers.
Photographs.
Three cassette tapes.
And a sealed envelope addressed:
TO CHLOE — IF I FAIL TO COME HOME
Her hands shook.
She opened it.
The letter was written in her father’s handwriting.
Chloe,
If you are reading this, something has happened that I was unable to prevent.
I need you to understand that none of this is your responsibility.
Years ago, while working for Russo Maritime, I found evidence that Antonio Rossi and Luca Russo were moving money through false companies. I believed Victor Russo’s father knew less than he claimed.
More importantly, I discovered plans referring to something called Crown Exchange.
Do not give this information to the police until you know who can be trusted.
One Russo son is involved.
One is not.
If Victor Russo is still alive, find him.
Chloe stopped reading.
Victor stared at the page.
Her father had written his name.
Years before Chloe ever met him.
She continued.
Victor is dangerous, but Robert Russo feared him because he could not control him.
If there is anyone who can expose what happened, it may be Victor.
I hope you never need this letter.
I hope I come home tomorrow and burn it myself.
Love always,
Dad.
The storage unit went silent.
Chloe looked at Victor.
“My father trusted you.”
Victor’s expression was unreadable.
“He never knew me.”
“He knew enough.”
Marco picked up one of the ledgers.
“Crown Exchange.”
Victor looked over.
“What?”
Marco flipped through pages.
“These aren’t just shipping accounts.”
“What are they?”
“Judges. Police officers. Inspectors. City officials.”
Victor’s face hardened.
A corruption network.
Built decades ago.
Possibly still active.
Tommy reached into the toolbox.
“There’s another envelope.”
Victor took it.
No name.
Inside was a photograph.
A younger Luca Russo shaking hands with a man outside City Hall.
Victor knew the man.
Everyone in Chicago did.
Now older.
Now powerful.
Now running for governor.
Senator Michael Grant.
Marco went pale.
“If this is real…”
Victor finished.
“Luca isn’t hiding from the government.”
Chloe looked at the picture.
Victor’s voice became grim.
“He’s been protected by it.”
Then headlights flooded the storage unit.
Dozens.
Victor looked toward the entrance.
Too many vehicles.
Marco drew his weapon.
“Company.”
Victor grabbed Chloe.
“Back exit.”
Tommy pointed.
“There isn’t one.”
Outside, loudspeakers crackled.
“Victor Russo!”
A federal voice.
“Come out with your hands visible!”
Chloe stared at him.
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Then the speaker continued.
“You are under arrest for the murder of Robert and Elaine Bennett.”
Chloe stopped breathing.
Her parents.
Victor looked at her.
“Chloe.”
She stepped backward.
And for the first time since entering his life, she looked at Victor Russo with fear.
May you like
Not fear of what might happen to him.
Fear of him.
