Chapter 6
Three Hale capos knew about Daniel.
Two admitted it within an hour.
The third ran.
That told me enough.
I kept the wedding ballroom locked.
Guests left in silence.
Only family remained.
Catherine sat near Clara upstairs.
Victoria and Richard were separated.
I went to Richard first.
He smiled when I entered.
“You finally look like a boss again.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“No child in your arms.”
There.
He believed fatherhood weakened presence.
I sat.
“Names.”
“You already have two.”
“Third.”
He laughed.
“Earn it.”
I almost smiled.
“You're in my hotel.”
“Built with Ashford money too.”
“Not anymore.”
His smile weakened.
Good.
“Third name.”
He leaned back.
“You think because a little girl called you Daddy, the entire world changes?”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
Richard rolled his eyes.
“Pathetic.”
I stared.
“She is four.”
“And?”
There.
Again.
“She survived four years without you.”
“Because you kept her from me.”
“She'll survive four more.”
My hands tightened.
He saw it.
Enjoyed it.
“That's your problem.”
“What?”
“You think children matter because they cry.”
I stared.
He continued.
“Daniel thought Mia mattered.”
Silence.
“Look where that got him.”
There.
Slip.
“What did Daniel do?”
Richard smiled.
“Wouldn't stop asking about baby formula shipments.”
I frowned.
Not drugs.
Not guns.
Formula.
“What about them?”
“He noticed they were moving through Hale warehouses.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
Richard said nothing.
I waited.
He finally answered.
“Cover.”
“For what?”
“Messages.”
Mafia communication hidden inside ordinary family supply shipments.
No need for technical details.
The point was access.
“Between who?”
Richard smiled.
“Hale men who wanted you replaced.”
Silence.
There.
Not just Ashfords.
Internal faction.
“Why replace me?”
“Because you refused expansion.”
Of course.
“Which expansion?”
“North corridor.”
I had closed it after two civilians got hurt.
Richard hated me for it.
So did some older capos.
He continued.
“You started protecting outsiders.”
“No.”
“You started asking who gets hurt.”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“That isn't leadership.”
I almost smiled.
“It is if you plan to keep people loyal.”
“Fear works faster.”
There.
His philosophy.
I stood.
“Third name.”
He laughed.
“No.”
I moved toward the door.
“You'll talk.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria already knows you lied about Mia.”
His face changed.
I continued.
“She thinks you used her.”
Nothing.
“She'll trade you before she loses herself.”
Silence.
Richard's smile disappeared.
Good.
I went to Victoria.
She was pacing.
“Your father says you knew four years.”
She turned.
“I did.”
No denial now.
“Why tell me?”
“Because I'm done protecting him.”
Fast.
Predictable.
“Third Hale capo.”
She hesitated.
I waited.
Then:
“Anthony Bell.”
Catherine's fiancé from two years ago.
Dead now.
No.
Too convenient.
Better living. Let's say Stephen Hale, cousin. We need not create confusing name. “Stephen Hale.” My cousin.
I stared.
“Stephen.”
“Yes.”
“What did he want?”
“Your chair.”
Of course.
“And Daniel?”
“He found the communication route.”
“Where is Stephen now?”
Victoria smiled bitterly.
“At your wedding.”
My blood went cold.
I turned.
One guest had never left.
May you like
My cousin Stephen was still somewhere inside the hotel.
And Clara was upstairs.
