Chapter 6 - The Enemy Behind the Golden Doors
Roman spent the next forty-eight hours dismantling Marcus Vale without firing a shot.
Account records went to federal investigators.
Surveillance footage went to police.
Financial documents revealed laundering, bribery, extortion, and conspiracy.
Vincent delivered evidence of the stabbing.
Naen gave a statement.
Roman's lawyers did the rest.
“You could have done this years ago,” Naen said.
Roman stood beside the hotel window where they had temporarily relocated.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because men like my father taught me courts were for people without power.”
“And now?”
Roman looked at her.
“Now I think perhaps choosing restraint requires more power.”
Naen smiled.
“Careful. You're becoming respectable.”
“Terrifying.”
But Marcus still had one move left.
He called Naen directly.
“I want to talk.”
She almost hung up.
Then he said:
“I know something about Roman you don't.”
Naen recorded the call.
Marcus wanted her alone at Laura.
Midnight.
Roman rejected the idea immediately.
“No.”
Naen folded her arms.
“You're doing it again.”
“This isn't ordering dinner.”
“We need Marcus.”
“We'll get him.”
“When?”
Roman had no answer.
Naen proposed a trap.
Police nearby.
Roman's people outside.
Recording equipment.
Marcus believing she had turned against Roman.
Roman hated every detail.
But he agreed.
At 11:57 p.m., Naen entered Laura.
The restaurant was dark except for chandelier lights above the main room.
Marcus sat at table seven.
The same table occupied by critics the night Naen had been fired.
“Sit.”
Naen did.
Marcus was handsome in a polished, forgettable way.
“You're brave.”
“I've heard that recently.”
He smiled.
“Roman likes you.”
“That's why I'm here.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“You think Roman Moretti can become a good man because you held his hand?”
Naen remained silent.
“You have no idea how much blood surrounds that family.”
“I didn't come to discuss his family.”
“No. You came because you're scared.”
Marcus placed a passport on the table.
Then money.
“Take Leo. Leave.”
“And Roman?”
“Dies.”
Naen's stomach tightened.
“You really hate him.”
Marcus laughed.
“Hate? No.”
He poured wine.
“I spent twelve years making that empire function while Roman inherited everything because of his name.”
There it was.
Not ideology.
Not revenge.
Entitlement.
Marcus wanted Roman's throne.
Naen kept him talking.
“You stabbed him?”
“I arranged it.”
“And my apartment?”
“Yes.”
“The photograph of Leo?”
Marcus smiled.
Naen wanted to hit him.
Instead, she kept breathing.
“Why tell me?”
“Because in five minutes, Roman will arrive.”
Naen's blood went cold.
Marcus looked toward the entrance.
“He couldn't let you come alone.”
Roman had followed.
Exactly as Marcus expected.
The doors opened.
Roman entered.
Cane.
Dark suit.
Cold eyes.
Alone.
Marcus smiled.
“Predictable.”
Roman looked at Naen.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
Marcus stood.
Men emerged from the kitchen.
Four.
Then six.
Roman showed no fear.
“You wanted me.”
Marcus spread his arms.
“For years.”
Naen stood.
“Marcus.”
He looked at her.
She lifted the tiny microphone hidden beneath her collar.
“Thank you.”
His smile disappeared.
Sirens erupted outside.
Marcus turned.
Roman moved.
Chaos exploded.
One of Marcus's men reached for Naen.
Roman struck him with the cane.
Police flooded the entrance.
Vincent followed.
Within seconds, men were on the floor.
Marcus ran toward the kitchen.
Naen followed before anyone could stop her.
He reached the rear alley.
The same alley.
The same rain.
Marcus slipped.
Naen stopped several feet away.
He pulled a knife.
“Stay back!”
Roman appeared behind her.
Marcus laughed.
“This is where it started.”
Roman stared at the blade.
“Yes.”
Marcus lunged.
Roman moved aside.
The injured leg slowed him.
Marcus turned and drove forward again.
Naen screamed.
A gunshot cracked.
Marcus collapsed.
Roman looked back.
Vincent stood near the doorway, weapon lowered.
Police rushed forward.
Marcus was alive.
The bullet had struck his shoulder.
He was handcuffed.
As paramedics carried him away, Naen looked down at the rainwater.
Months might pass before she stopped remembering Roman's blood running through it.
Roman stood beside her.
“It's over.”
Naen looked at him.
“Is it?”
He understood.
Marcus was over.
But Roman's world remained.
Naen could not build a life for Leo inside permanent violence.
Roman knew it too.
And the realization hurt more deeply than the knife ever had.
Because defeating Marcus had been easy compared with the choice Roman now faced.
To keep his empire.
May you like
Or become someone who could safely remain in Naen's life.
---
