Chapter 12 - Damian Romano’s Last Bargain
Damian entered first.
Lucia sat safely on her bed.
Beside her stood Marianne.
“Are you insane?”
Marianne looked confused.
“I came through the connecting room.”
Lucia pointed.
“She knew Mommy.”
Damian exhaled.
Hazel almost collapsed from relief.
But the relief lasted seconds.
Marianne held a letter.
“I found this inside Lucia’s old things.”
Elena had written it.
Patrick Sullivan knew about Lucia.
Elena believed he had helped Michael.
Damian moved Lucia downstairs.
Then Patrick called.
“I want Sarah’s archive.”
Damian answered.
“No.”
“I want the girl.”
Damian’s voice changed.
“You just signed your death warrant.”
Patrick laughed.
“Which girl, Damian?”
Hazel looked up.
Patrick continued.
“Your daughter—or your maid?”
Damian said nothing.
“Choose.”
Hazel hated that word.
Damian did too.
“There is no choice.”
“Everyone chooses.”
“No. Weak men create choices that require innocent people to suffer. Then they pretend cruelty is strategy.”
Patrick became silent.
Damian continued.
“You get neither.”
The line disconnected.
Federal authorities already had copies of the archive.
Patrick’s empire was collapsing.
He had only violence left.
That made him dangerous.
Damian moved everyone into the estate’s secure level.
Hazel refused.
“If we hide, he controls the board.”
“This isn't a game.”
“Exactly.”
Sarah agreed.
Patrick needed the original archive because it contained physical evidence required for several prosecutions.
They devised a trap.
Damian offered the archive in exchange for peace.
Patrick accepted.
The meeting occurred at the lakefront.
Hazel remained in the armored vehicle.
She hated it.
Damian approached Patrick alone.
Patrick was surrounded by men.
“You became sentimental,” Patrick said.
“Apparently.”
“First Elena. Now the maid.”
Damian’s expression remained calm.
“Hazel has a name.”
Patrick laughed.
“That serious?”
Damian didn't answer.
Patrick opened the case.
Empty.
His smile vanished.
Federal vehicles appeared.
Patrick reached for his gun.
Damian disarmed him.
Agents swarmed.
Within minutes, Patrick Sullivan was handcuffed.
Hazel stepped from the SUV.
Patrick saw her.
“You think Romano saved you?”
Hazel stopped.
“He did.”
“No.”
Patrick smiled.
“Your mother did.”
Sarah stiffened.
Patrick continued.
“She made a bargain twenty-four years ago.”
“What bargain?”
Sarah whispered, “Don't.”
Hazel looked at her.
“Mom?”
Patrick laughed as agents pulled him away.
Hazel turned to Sarah.
“What did you promise?”
Sarah’s eyes filled.
“Your firstborn.”
Hazel stared.
“What?”
Damian stepped closer.
Sarah shook her head.
“Not literally. That's what Patrick called it.”
She explained.
Sarah had promised control of the trust would pass to her first child at twenty-five.
Hazel’s twenty-fifth birthday was six weeks away.
At that moment, every asset became hers.
Unless she died first.
Patrick hadn't been trying merely to retrieve the archive.
He needed Hazel dead before her birthday.
Damian looked toward the departing federal vehicles.
Patrick was arrested.
But his organization still had people everywhere.
Hazel’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Hazel standing exactly where she was now.
Taken seconds earlier.
Then another message arrived.
PATRICK WAS NEVER THE ONE WHO WANTED YOU DEAD.
Hazel slowly raised her eyes.
Across the street, a figure entered a black car.
Damian saw it too.
May you like
And before the door closed, Sarah whispered the person’s name.
“Wyatt.”
