Chapter 11 - Norah’s Price
Vincent did not take Norah back to the estate.
He took her to a hotel owned through one of his legitimate companies.
The entire top floor was cleared.
Norah hated it immediately.
“I feel kidnapped.”
“You have room service.”
“That does not improve kidnapping.”
Vincent stood near the window.
“Until we know who the insider is, you’re staying here.”
“What about Liam?”
“We’re locating him.”
“And Mrs. Delgado?”
“Her too.”
Norah folded her arms.
“You always sound certain.”
“It reassures people.”
“Does it reassure you?”
Vincent looked toward her.
No.
But he did not say it.
Instead:
“You should eat.”
Norah laughed once.
“You’re telling me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s new.”
“Apparently I’ve become an expert.”
She sat.
Vincent ordered sandwiches.
When they arrived, Norah took two bites.
Then stopped.
Vincent noticed.
“You’re worried.”
“My brother is being held by the people who poisoned you.”
“Yes.”
“Your reassurance needs work.”
He sat opposite.
“I’m going to bring him back.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I know.”
This time the certainty disappeared.
Norah appreciated the honesty more.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Vincent said, “Why did you keep paying his debt?”
She looked confused.
“What?”
“You could have left.”
“He’s my brother.”
“That’s not enough for most people.”
“It is for me.”
Vincent considered that.
“My father used to say loyalty was what remained when logic disappeared.”
“Was he right?”
“Sometimes.”
“And other times?”
“It gets you poisoned.”
Norah looked at him.
“So which am I?”
“Which what?”
“Loyal or stupid?”
Vincent smiled faintly.
“Both.”
She threw a napkin at him.
He caught it.
That was when his phone rang.
Enzo.
“We found the warehouse.”
Vincent stood.
Norah did too.
“You’re staying.”
“No.”
“Norah.”
“You need Liam to identify the documents and the people he heard.”
“He can do that after we recover him.”
“And Mrs. Delgado knows me.”
“That is not an argument.”
“It is to her.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
Norah stepped closer.
“If somebody used me to control you, would you stay in a hotel while someone else fixed it?”
His expression changed.
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because—”
He stopped.
Because I am Vincent Rossy.
Because people follow my orders.
Because my life has taught me that power means never waiting for rescue.
Every answer sounded arrogant.
Norah saw the hesitation.
“Exactly.”
Vincent exhaled.
“You remain in the car.”
“That’s a compromise?”
“It’s the only one.”
“Fine.”
They reached the waterfront just before midnight.
The warehouse appeared abandoned.
Too abandoned.
Vincent’s men surrounded it.
Enzo approached the SUV.
“Three heat signatures inside.”
“Martin?”
“Likely.”
“Mercer?”
“No idea.”
Vincent looked at Norah.
“Car.”
“Yes.”
“Doors locked.”
“I heard you.”
“If anyone approaches—”
“I know how doors work.”
He stared.
Norah softened.
“Be careful.”
There it was again.
Those two words.
Vincent nodded.
Then left.
The next fifteen minutes were the longest of Norah’s life.
No gunfire.
No shouting.
Nothing.
Then the passenger door suddenly opened.
Norah spun around.
A man she did not recognize grabbed her arm.
She screamed.
The driver reached for him.
Another man smashed something into the window.
Glass cracked.
Norah kicked.
The stranger cursed.
She pulled free long enough to hit the lock.
Then the driver accelerated.
The stranger jumped back.
The SUV shot forward.
Norah looked behind.
Two men ran toward another vehicle.
“Call Vincent!”
The driver grabbed his phone.
Before he could dial, headlights appeared ahead.
A truck blocked the road.
The SUV stopped.
Norah’s stomach dropped.
Then several black vehicles surrounded them.
Doors opened.
Enzo emerged.
The men who had attacked the SUV turned and ran.
Rossy security caught them within seconds.
Vincent reached Norah’s door.
He opened it.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He looked at her arms.
“You’re bleeding.”
She had a small cut from glass.
“I’m fine.”
Vincent’s expression became terrifying.
Norah grabbed his shirt.
“Don’t.”
He looked at her hand.
“Don’t what?”
“Do something because you’re angry.”
One of the attackers was being held ten yards away.
Vincent wanted answers.
He also wanted punishment.
Norah could see both.
“Liam,” she said. “Mrs. Delgado.”
The reminder worked.
Vincent stepped back.
“Take them alive.”
Enzo nodded.
Inside the warehouse, Liam and Mrs. Delgado were found tied in a back office.
Alive.
Norah ran to them.
Mrs. Delgado immediately complained.
“They ruined my coat.”
Norah laughed and cried simultaneously.
Liam hugged her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that.”
“I mean it.”
“Then start making better decisions.”
Vincent entered.
Liam looked at him.
“Martin left before you arrived.”
“Mercer?”
“Never came.”
“Who gave the orders?”
Liam looked toward the captured men.
“One of them called somebody from the estate.”
Vincent’s eyes sharpened.
“Name?”
“He called him Enzo.”
Silence.
Norah slowly looked toward the doorway.
Enzo stood there.
Nobody moved.
Enzo’s expression became blank.
Vincent stared at the man who had been beside him since childhood.
“Say something.”
Enzo shook his head.
“Vincent, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
Liam stood.
“I heard it.”
“Could be another Enzo.”
“There isn’t another Enzo in the house,” Vincent said.
Enzo looked wounded.
“You believe this?”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“I believe evidence.”
Norah saw exactly what Julian’s plan had achieved.
Even without proving Enzo guilty, he had placed doubt between the two men Vincent trusted most.
May you like
And doubt had nearly killed Vincent once already.
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