Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Behind the Concierge Desk
“No.”
It was the same word Lena had used on Gabriel.
But this time it contained no confidence.
Only disbelief.
“Tessa was nineteen when my father died.”
Victor nodded.
“Correct.”
“She didn’t even work at the Bellamy.”
“Correct.”
“Then how could she—”
“I didn’t say Tessa killed him.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“Stop playing games.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward his nephew.
“I’m not.”
He opened another file.
“Tessa Lane’s real surname is Mercer.”
Lena stared.
“Her father was Daniel Mercer.”
The name meant nothing to her.
It meant something to Gabriel.
“Bellamy’s former CFO,” he said.
Victor nodded.
“Michael Parker discovered Daniel Mercer’s operation.”
Lena felt dizzy.
“Tessa told me her father died when she was young.”
“He did. In prison.”
Lena sat down.
Every memory suddenly felt contaminated.
Lunch breaks.
Late shifts.
Birthdays.
Tessa laughing behind the concierge desk.
Four years of friendship.
“Why would she hide that?”
Victor looked at her sadly.
“Perhaps because she knew who you were before you knew who she was.”
Lena stood immediately.
“I’m going to talk to her.”
Gabriel blocked her.
“No.”
“Move.”
“No.”
“Gabriel.”
“Someone photographed you sleeping.”
“Tessa wouldn’t—”
“You don’t know that.”
The truth hurt because he was right.
Ben entered suddenly.
“She’s gone.”
Lena turned.
“What?”
“Tessa left the hotel twenty minutes ago.”
“Call her.”
“No answer.”
They checked security footage.
At 9:41, Tessa had entered the employee locker room.
At 9:46, she left carrying a backpack.
At 9:52, she exited through the service entrance.
Then Lena noticed something.
“Go back.”
Ben replayed it.
“Stop.”
Tessa’s left hand was visible.
She held a brass key.
Room 417.
They rushed upstairs.
The hidden room had been searched.
Papers covered the floor.
The metal box was gone.
On the dusty desk, someone had written:
I’M SORRY, LENA.
Lena’s eyes filled.
Then her phone rang.
Tessa.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
Then sobbing.
“Lena.”
“Tessa, tell me where you are.”
“I never wanted you involved.”
Gabriel motioned to Ben, who began tracing the call.
“Were you watching me?”
“No.”
“Did you put the key in my locker?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed you to find your father’s files.”
“Why not tell me?”
“My father destroyed your family.”
Lena closed her eyes.
“Tessa.”
“He didn’t mean for Michael to die.”
Everything stopped.
Lena’s voice became almost inaudible.
“What?”
“My father was moving money. Your dad discovered it. They argued. My father followed him that night.”
Tessa struggled to breathe.
“There was an accident.”
Lena gripped the desk.
“He caused it?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel moved closer.
Tessa continued.
“My father panicked. Victor helped cover up the financial scandal because exposing everything would destroy Rossi Holdings too. Antonio tried to reopen the investigation later.”
Lena looked toward Victor.
He lowered his eyes.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You let me think—”
“I needed Gabriel to hear the truth from someone he trusted.”
Lena almost laughed at the cruelty.
“I trusted Tessa.”
On the phone, Tessa sobbed harder.
“I’m sorry.”
“Where are you?”
“I found the real ledger.”
Everyone went still.
“Where?”
“My father hid it.”
“Tessa, listen to me. Bring it to the police.”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
A male voice sounded faintly behind her.
Tessa gasped.
The line went dead.
Ben looked at his device.
“I have the location.”
An abandoned warehouse near the river.
Gabriel ordered Lena to remain behind.
She refused.
Of course she did.
Twenty-five minutes later, they arrived with police already approaching from the opposite side.
Inside, they found Tessa tied to a chair.
A man stood behind her.
Richard Hale.
Lena stopped.
Richard smiled sadly.
“I really hoped you’d stay out of this.”
Lena stared.
“You?”
Richard sighed.
“Daniel Mercer started the theft. I continued it after he went to prison.”
“You attacked yourself?”
“A useful performance.”
Gabriel stepped in front of Lena.
Richard raised a gun.
“Don’t.”
Everything froze.
“The ledger,” Gabriel said.
Richard smiled.
“Tessa found it.”
Tessa’s face was wet with tears.
“I’m sorry, Lena.”
Richard pointed the weapon toward Gabriel.
“You Rossi men have caused me enough trouble.”
Then Lena understood.
“You sent Gabriel the files.”
Richard looked at her.
“Very good.”
“You wanted him suspicious of me.”
“I wanted everyone looking at everyone else.”
“And while we did that, you were going to destroy the ledger.”
“Exactly.”
Police sirens grew louder.
Richard’s expression changed.
He grabbed Tessa.
Gabriel moved.
A gunshot exploded.
Lena screamed.
Gabriel fell.
For one horrifying second, the world disappeared.
Then security rushed Richard.
Police stormed through the side entrance.
Lena dropped beside Gabriel.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“No. No, no, no.”
His eyes opened.
“Lena.”
“Don’t talk.”
He grimaced.
“You’re telling me what to do now?”
She started crying and laughing simultaneously.
“You idiot.”
His hand found hers.
“Did we get him?”
She looked up.
Richard was in handcuffs.
Tessa was safe.
Ben held the ledger.
“Yes.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
“Good.”
“Gabriel?”
No response.
“Gabriel.”
Paramedics pushed her aside.
And as they carried him toward the ambulance, Lena realized something terrifying.
She had spent her life believing losing someone was easier if you never needed them too much.
Gabriel Rossi had destroyed that defense in less than a week.
May you like
Now she might lose him anyway.
---
