Chapter 13 - Roman Duca Breaks His Own Rules
Roman knew something was wrong before Marcus said a word.
They were three blocks from Dock 17 when the radio cracked.
“Sir, residence team requesting immediate contact.”
Roman grabbed the handset.
“What?”
A guard answered.
“Mrs. Duca is missing.”
Everything inside Roman stopped.
“What do you mean missing?”
“She left through the east service garage.”
“Who authorized it?”
“No one.”
Roman turned toward Marcus.
Marcus was already changing routes.
“When?”
“Twelve minutes ago.”
“Vehicle?”
“One of the house cars.”
“Track it.”
“Tracker was disabled.”
Roman closed his eyes.
Of course it was.
Serena had watched Roman’s security systems for six years.
She knew more than anyone realized.
Marcus asked, “Where would she go?”
Roman pulled out his phone.
Called.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then a message appeared.
From Serena.
Don’t follow me. Trust me once.
Roman stared at the words.
Marcus looked over.
“That’s not happening.”
“No.”
Roman called again.
Voicemail.
He felt something terrifying rising inside him.
Not anger.
Panic.
Pure, uncontrolled panic.
For years Roman had built his entire life around preventing this feeling.
Now there was nowhere to put it.
“Find her.”
Marcus began contacting teams.
Roman looked toward the city skyline.
Think.
Serena would not run randomly.
She had a reason.
Something she knew.
Something she had.
The ledger.
Roman’s eyes widened.
“Check the evidence drive.”
Marcus contacted the house.
Seconds later:
“Copy missing.”
Roman swore.
“She took it.”
“To Shaw?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she thinks she can trade it for us.”
Marcus stared.
“Us?”
“Me. Adrian. Julian. Maybe everyone.”
Roman leaned forward.
“She’s trying to protect me.”
There was disbelief in his voice.
Not because Serena lacked courage.
Because Roman had spent six years treating protection as a one-way responsibility.
The idea that Serena might risk herself for him exposed the arrogance at the center of everything.
She was not his weakness.
She was his partner.
And he had never allowed her to act like one.
“Trace Shaw,” Roman ordered.
Marcus shook his head.
“Phone dark.”
“Traffic cameras.”
“Working.”
“Her vehicle.”
“Already searching.”
Roman’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
“Roman.”
Serena.
“Where are you?”
“I told you not to follow.”
His voice broke.
Actually broke.
“Serena.”
Silence on her end.
She had never heard that tone from him.
“Roman, listen.”
“No. You listen to me. Whatever you’re doing, stop.”
“I can fix this.”
“No.”
“You’ve said that to me for six years.”
“This is different.”
“It isn’t.”
“Yes, it is!”
Marcus looked away.
Roman forced himself to lower his voice.
“Tell me where you are.”
“I have the ledger.”
“I know.”
“I’m giving Shaw what he wants.”
“He’ll kill you.”
“He wants the records.”
“He wants control.”
“So do you.”
The words hit harder than she intended.
Roman closed his eyes.
“You’re right.”
Serena went silent.
“I’m right?”
“Yes. About me. About us. About all of it.”
“Roman—”
“But this is not me trying to control you.”
“What is it?”
“I’m begging you.”
Serena stopped breathing.
Roman Duca did not beg.
“Please tell me where you are.”
Before Serena could answer, another voice came through the call.
“Enough.”
Shaw.
Roman stood inside the moving SUV as though he could somehow reach through the phone.
“Everett.”
“Your wife is considerably more resourceful than you gave her credit for.”
“Don’t touch her.”
Serena snapped, “He hasn’t.”
Roman almost laughed from relief despite the situation.
Shaw said, “I gave you an address.”
“Dock Seventeen.”
“No longer.”
Roman’s expression sharpened.
“Where?”
“Remember where your father built his first legitimate hotel?”
Roman knew immediately.
The Duca Crown.
Abandoned for renovations.
Downtown.
Twenty-seven stories.
Roman whispered, “You planned this.”
“For decades.”
The call ended.
Roman looked at Marcus.
“The Crown.”
The convoy changed direction.
Meanwhile, Serena stood inside the unfinished top-floor ballroom of the old Duca Crown Hotel.
Shaw faced her.
Two armed men stood near the elevators.
Julian sat tied to a chair against one wall.
Adrian was beside him, pale from blood loss but conscious.
Serena held the flash drive.
Shaw smiled.
“You really did come alone.”
“I said I would.”
“You’re either very brave or very foolish.”
“Roman says those are often the same thing.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Serena, don’t give him anything.”
Shaw raised one hand.
“Quiet.”
Serena’s heartbeat hammered.
“Let them go.”
Shaw extended his hand.
“The drive.”
“First them.”
“You are negotiating with the wrong generation of this family.”
Serena met his eyes.
“No.”
Shaw frowned.
“I’m negotiating exactly the way Roman should have twenty years ago.”
She lifted the drive.
“No secrets.”
Then she opened her other hand.
A tiny red light blinked inside her ring.
Shaw’s face changed.
Serena smiled.
“You spent years assuming Roman’s wife was decoration.”
Downstairs, every word was being transmitted to Marcus.
And Roman heard them as he entered the building.
For the first time in six years, Serena had entered Roman’s dangerous world not behind him, but beside him.
May you like
Now he had to trust her long enough to bring them both home.
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