Chapter 14 - Pier Nine
The warehouse lights went out.
A second later, an alarm began to howl.
Giulietta heard men shouting inside.
"Stay down."
A side door burst open.
Blood darkened his sleeve, but he stayed on his feet.
"Warren's clearing the building," he said. "He knows police are coming."
"You warned us."
"Late."
"Why?"
Rafael gave a bitter laugh.
"Because I spent eighteen years telling myself loyalty meant following orders. Turns out that's just cowardice with a nicer name."
"Where's Preston?"
"River exit. Warren has the key."
Giulietta looked toward the water.
Sirens grew louder.
"The bank box isn't in Warren's name. Your father used your mother's maiden name."
"How do you know?"
"I drove him there."
"Where?"
"First Federal. Midtown branch. Box 417."
Police vehicles flooded the pier.
Giulietta's phone rang.
She answered.
"You should have married me," he said.
"You should have learned what no means."
"Still pretending this is about you?"
"You swung a club at me. It was very much about me."
"That wasn't the plan."
"What was the plan?"
Preston laughed once.
"Scare you. Get the signature. Make you look unstable if you resisted. Dad had doctors ready to say you were having a breakdown."
The altered prenup.
It all connected.
"And if I had married you?"
"You would've had a beautiful honeymoon."
"While you took emergency control of my company."
Confirmation.
So did the detective beside him, body camera running.
"Where is Warren taking the key?"
"You think I'm stupid?"
"I think you're angry enough to hurt the only person who still thinks you're useful."
Preston's breathing changed.
"He left me."
"Where are you?"
A pause.
Marco looked toward the elevated tracks two blocks away.
May you like
Giulietta smiled coldly.
"Found you."
