Chapter 7 - The Traitor Inside the Family
The watcher arrived after sunset.
His name was Daniel Shaw.
Thirty-two years old.
Former private security.
A scar ran beneath his chin.
Two of Luca's men escorted him into the study.
Daniel looked more frightened by Harper than by Luca.
That was strange.
Harper sat across from him.
“You wanted me.”
Daniel nodded.
“Your father told me never to approach you.”
“Yet you followed me.”
“To keep other people away.”
“You put a tracker under my car?”
Daniel looked confused.
“No.”
Luca watched carefully.
“You expect us to believe that?”
“I didn't put anything under her car.”
“Then who did?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Harper leaned forward.
“Start from the beginning.”
Daniel glanced toward Luca.
Harper said, “Look at me.”
He did.
“How do you know Thomas Rourke?”
“He hired me six months ago.”
“For what?”
“Security.”
“Where?”
“Maine.”
Harper blinked.
“He lives in Maine?”
“Sometimes.”
“What does that mean?”
“He has several properties.”
Of course he did.
“What did he hire you to protect?”
“Him.”
“From who?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Everyone.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“Why return to Boston?”
Daniel became serious.
“Because Rourke found out someone was looking for Harper.”
The room went silent.
Harper felt cold.
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
“So he sent you?”
“Yes.”
“To follow me?”
“Watch. Report. Never approach.”
“Why wouldn't he approach me himself?”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Because your mother made him promise.”
Harper's jaw tightened.
“My mother hated him.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I wasn't there twenty-seven years ago.”
“You said she made him promise.”
“According to him.”
Harper didn't know what to believe.
Luca asked, “Did Rourke arrange the ambush?”
“No.”
“Careful.”
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“I know who did.”
Everyone became still.
Vincent stepped closer.
“Name.”
Daniel looked at Luca.
“Anthony DeLuca.”
No one spoke.
Harper didn't know the name.
But Luca did.
His expression changed in a way she hadn't seen before.
Not shock.
Something worse.
Betrayal.
“Anthony?” Luca asked.
Daniel nodded.
Vincent cursed.
Harper looked between them.
“Who is he?”
Luca answered quietly.
“My godfather.”
Harper stared.
“He's part of your organization?”
“Second only to me.”
Daniel continued.
“He approached Rourke four months ago.”
“Why?”
“Proposed a partnership.”
“For what?”
“Removing Luca.”
Vincent's hand moved toward his jacket.
Luca stopped him with a look.
“What did Rourke say?”
“No.”
“You're sure?”
“I was in the room.”
“Why would Anthony approach Thomas Rourke?”
“History.”
Daniel glanced toward Harper.
“Anthony told him Moretti blood had destroyed both their lives.”
Luca's face became unreadable.
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know.”
Harper thought about Antonio's store.
The old violence.
The hidden relationships.
“What happened after Thomas refused?”
“Anthony threatened him.”
“With?”
Daniel looked at Harper.
“You.”
Harper swallowed.
“He knew about me.”
“Apparently.”
“So Thomas came to Boston.”
“Yes.”
“To protect me?”
Daniel nodded.
Harper struggled to reconcile the image.
A controlling criminal.
A father who vanished.
A man who allegedly watched her from across a street but refused to speak.
“Where is he now?”
Daniel hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Luca leaned closer.
“You worked for him.”
“I lost contact yesterday.”
“When?”
“Two hours before your ambush.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
Daniel said, “I think Anthony has him.”
The possibility settled over the room.
Harper stood.
“Then call Anthony.”
Vincent shook his head.
“That would reveal what we know.”
“Good.”
Luca looked at her.
“No.”
Harper almost snapped at him.
Then noticed something.
Luca's refusal wasn't controlling this time.
It was tactical.
“What do you suggest?”
He looked toward Daniel.
“We verify his story.”
“How?”
Luca turned to Vincent.
“Bring Anthony here.”
Vincent's eyebrows rose.
“Here?”
“For dinner.”
Harper stared.
“You're inviting the man who tried to kill you to dinner?”
“Possibly tried.”
“He's either innocent or he's not.”
“And if he's guilty?”
Luca's expression chilled.
“Then he will spend dinner wondering how much I know.”
Harper couldn't decide whether the idea was brilliant or insane.
Probably both.
Anthony DeLuca arrived at eight.
He was sixty-one, elegant, charming, silver-haired.
He hugged Luca.
Actually hugged him.
“Look at you.”
Anthony gripped Luca's shoulders.
“I heard you were hurt.”
“Minor accident.”
Vincent watched from across the room.
Anthony noticed Harper.
“And who is this?”
Luca didn't hesitate.
“Harper Hayes.”
For the smallest fraction of a second, Anthony stopped smiling.
Harper saw it.
So did Luca.
Then the charm returned.
“Ms. Hayes.”
He offered his hand.
Harper shook it.
“You've heard of me?”
“No.”
Too fast.
Harper smiled politely.
“Interesting.”
Dinner became a performance.
Nobody mentioned ambushes.
Nobody mentioned Thomas.
Anthony talked about city politics, restaurants, and a redevelopment project.
Harper watched him.
Luca barely ate.
Vincent drank water.
At dessert, Luca casually said, “I found something strange today.”
Anthony lifted his coffee.
“What?”
“A tracker.”
Harper watched his fingers.
They tightened around the cup.
Barely.
“On one of my vehicles?” Anthony asked.
“No.”
Luca looked toward Harper.
“On hers.”
Anthony's eyes moved to Harper.
“How strange.”
“Very.”
Luca continued.
“Especially because it seems to have been installed before she found me.”
Anthony remained calm.
“Who would be interested in a waitress?”
Harper spoke.
“My father, maybe.”
Silence.
Anthony's cup stopped halfway to his mouth.
Harper said the name.
“Thomas Rourke.”
The coffee cup touched the saucer.
Anthony smiled.
But now Harper saw the effort.
“That's an old ghost.”
“Apparently ghosts come back.”
Anthony looked at Luca.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Luca leaned back.
“Why does it bother you?”
“It doesn't.”
“Good.”
Another silence.
Anthony stood.
“I should leave.”
“Dessert isn't finished.”
“I have an early morning.”
Luca looked toward him.
“Sit.”
The word changed the room.
Anthony's smile disappeared.
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Anthony slowly sat.
Luca asked, “Did you arrange Pier Twelve?”
“No.”
“Did you know I would be there?”
“No.”
“Did you approach Thomas Rourke?”
Anthony's expression finally cracked.
He looked toward Harper.
Then back at Luca.
“Who told you?”
Wrong answer.
Vincent stepped forward.
Anthony realized it immediately.
He stood.
Two men entered through the side door.
Anthony didn't reach for a weapon.
He simply sighed.
“You always were too curious, Luca.”
Luca's voice was quiet.
“And you were always too comfortable lying to me.”
Anthony looked almost sad.
“You think this is about power?”
“What is it about?”
“Your father.”
Luca became still.
Anthony smiled bitterly.
“Antonio Moretti ruined more lives than you ever knew.”
Harper looked at Luca.
Anthony continued.
“And Thomas Rourke wasn't his enemy.”
He turned toward Harper.
“He was his partner.”
Harper's breath caught.
Luca stared.
Anthony delivered the final blow.
“The story you've been told is wrong.”
His eyes settled on Harper.
“Your mother didn't run from Thomas Rourke because he was dangerous.”
He paused.
“She ran because she discovered what Antonio Moretti and Thomas had done together.”
May you like
And suddenly every secret their parents had buried seemed ready to crawl back into the light.
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