CHAPTER 9 — THE KING WITHOUT A THRONE
The meeting took place at the old Varric hotel downtown.
Matteo ordered Liana to remain at the mansion.
She refused.
“You said someone inside this house helped the sniper. Nico is safer where I can see you.”
“You cannot enter that meeting.”
“Then I’ll stay in the armored car.”
Matteo looked ready to argue.
Nico grabbed his finger.
The argument ended.
Tomas drove while four vehicles surrounded them.
At the hotel, Matteo entered through the underground garage with twelve armed men. Liana remained in the center car with Nico and Dr. Hale.
For forty minutes, nothing happened.
Then the lights went out.
The garage doors slammed shut.
Tomas cursed.
Gunfire erupted above them.
Dr. Hale pulled Liana and Nico onto the floor.
A voice came through the car’s speaker.
Carlo.
“Liana Graves.”
She froze.
“You have caused enough disruption. Bring the child to the elevator, and you may leave unharmed.”
Liana held Nico tighter.
Carlo continued.
“Matteo is no longer in a position to protect you.”
A body fell from the stairwell above.
One of Matteo’s men.
Tomas drew his weapon.
“There’s an emergency passage behind the west wall.”
“Will it lead outside?” Liana asked.
“To the kitchen level.”
“Then go help Matteo.”
“My orders are to protect you.”
“You cannot protect us if Carlo wins.”
Tomas hesitated.
Liana took the spare key from the dashboard and locked the doors.
“Go.”
Tomas disappeared into the passage.
Minutes later, someone approached the vehicle.
Liana reached for the pistol Tomas had left beneath the seat.
The rear door handle moved.
Dr. Hale covered Nico.
The window lowered two inches.
“Liana.”
Matteo’s voice.
She unlocked the door.
He climbed inside, blood running from his temple.
“What happened?”
“Carlo had already bought half the room.”
“Did you lose?”
Matteo looked toward the dark garage.
“I lost the vote.”
Nico reached for him.
Matteo took his son.
For a moment, the ruthless boss held the baby as though Nico were the only piece of his life no one had managed to steal.
“What now?” Liana asked.
“Carlo controls the businesses, the accounts, and most of my men.”
“Not Tomas.”
“No.”
“Not Mrs. Bell.”
A faint smile touched Matteo’s mouth.
“No.”
“Not me.”
His smile disappeared.
“You should leave Valecroft.”
“So Carlo can raise Nico after killing his mother?”
Matteo’s eyes darkened.
“You are not part of this war.”
“My son became part of it before I ever knew your name.”
Footsteps sounded near the elevator.
Matteo checked the ammunition in his weapon.
Liana grabbed his wrist.
“Your wife gathered evidence because she knew guns would not save this family.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Finish what she started.”
The emergency door opened.
Tomas appeared.
“The path is clear.”
They escaped through the hotel kitchen and entered an unmarked delivery van.
By sunrise, the newspapers reported that Matteo Varric had fled his own city.
Carlo moved into the mansion before noon.
But he did not find Nico.
May you like
He did not find Liana.
And he did not find Elena’s ledger.
