Chapter 8
The second phone was hidden inside Thomas’s jacket.
He refused to surrender it.
“You search me, you humiliate yourself.”
Valentina stared.
“No.”
She held out her hand.
“I humiliate the man who tried to kill my son.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened.
One of his former loyalists stepped forward.
“Give it to her.”
Thomas looked betrayed.
Good.
Finally he threw the phone onto the table.
Locked.
Marcus knew the code.
Valentina saw it in his face.
“Marcus.”
“No.”
Thomas glared at him.
Marcus straightened.
For one second, loyalty won.
Then Vanessa laughed.
“Look at you.”
Marcus turned.
She smiled cruelly.
“Forty years old and still waiting for Thomas to tell you when you’re allowed to breathe.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
Thomas snapped:
“Vanessa.”
She ignored him.
“Unlock it.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because if anyone is getting buried under this, it won’t be me.”
There.
Alliance cracking.
Marcus unlocked the phone.
Thomas looked ready to strike him.
Valentina took the device.
No messages under real names.
Only labels.
BRIDE.
M.
SILVER ONE.
DOCTOR.
RIVER.
Her breathing slowed at the last word.
She opened it.
Three old messages.
Two years earlier.
Thomas:
Matteo changed route.
RIVER:
We see him.
Thomas:
Make weather take blame.
Valentina stopped breathing.
No technical details.
No mechanics.
Just intent.
Enough.
Marcus whispered:
“Valentina…”
She looked at Thomas.
Her father said nothing.
She opened another.
RIVER:
Car went over.
Thomas:
And Matteo?
Pause.
RIVER:
Alive when we left.
The terrace disappeared around her.
Matteo had survived the crash.
At least initially.
Valentina’s hands became cold.
Another message.
Thomas:
No return.
RIVER:
Understood.
Silence.
Vanessa looked sick.
Marcus stared at Thomas.
Valentina read the exchange again.
No anger yet.
Only precision.
“Who is River?”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“You think I’ll tell you?”
“No.”
She looked at Marcus.
“He will.”
Marcus shook his head.
Thomas laughed.
“He doesn’t know.”
Marcus looked at him.
“What?”
Thomas continued.
“You think I trusted you with Matteo?”
The insult landed.
Marcus had helped with Ethan.
But apparently had never been important enough for the older crime.
Another crack.
Valentina looked down the contact list.
Then noticed one name Marcus reacted to.
RIVER had sent a message tonight.
POOL DONE?
Valentina raised the phone.
May you like
“Not yet.”
Thomas’s smile vanished.
