Chapter 4 – [THE BADGE AND THE BETRAYAL]

Answer one: Camille wasn’t working for a rival mafia family. She was working with the corrupt Chief of Police, who had used his authority to orchestrate Victor’s father’s murder and steal the money.

Open two: Why does the Chief need Posie? And how can Victor fight the entire police force?

Delphine stared at the silver badge, the reality of the betrayal settling over her like suffocating ice.

“Chief Thomas,” Victor growled, staring at the badge. “He was my father’s oldest friend. He stood at his funeral.”

“He ordered the hit,” Camille laughed bitterly. “He knew your father was moving the cash. He used me to monitor the bakery because he knew it was a front. And now, he has the girl.”

“Why Posie?” Delphine screamed, her finger trembling on the trigger. “She’s just a little girl!”

“Because of what Posie is wearing,” Camille smiled.

Delphine’s heart stopped. She thought back to the morning. She had dressed Posie in her favorite yellow sweater, jeans, and…

The locket.

Delphine had given Posie her grandmother’s old silver locket that morning because Posie had been anxious about a spelling test.

“The locket,” Victor realized, looking at Delphine. “Your mother’s locket.”

“It’s not just jewelry,” Camille spat. “It’s the biometric key to the offshore digital accounts. Thomas knew you had the ledger, Victor, but he didn’t know the kid was wearing the key until he saw the school photos online.”

Suddenly, the warehouse was flooded with blinding spotlight beams.

“Drop your weapons, Castellano!” a voice boomed over a megaphone outside.

It was the police. Dozens of cruisers had surrounded the warehouse. Chief Thomas had set a trap.

Victor grabbed Delphine’s arm. “We have to move.”

“I’m not leaving without my daughter!” Delphine fought him.

“If we get arrested, Posie dies!” Victor yelled over the sound of approaching sirens. “Trust me!”

Victor dragged Delphine toward a grate in the floor at the back of the container. He kicked it open, revealing a dark, rushing drainage tunnel that led straight into the harbor.

“Jump!” Victor ordered.

Delphine looked at the black water, then at the broken inhaler in her hand. She took a breath and jumped.

Victor followed, plunging them into the freezing, rushing current just as armed SWAT officers stormed the container.

They swam through the dark tunnel, emerging a quarter-mile down the coast, gasping for air in the freezing rain.

Victor hauled Delphine onto the rocky shore. They were soaking wet, freezing, and hunted by the law.

Victor pulled a waterproof burner phone from his pocket. He dialed a number.

“Mom,” Victor said, his voice surprisingly gentle. “It’s Thomas. He has the girl. Initiate the blackout.”

Delphine collapsed onto the rocks, shivering uncontrollably. “What blackout?”

Victor looked at her, his dark eyes burning with a fierce, protective fire.

“My family built this city, Delphine. We own the power grid. If Thomas thinks he can use a badge to hide a child, I will plunge Boston into the dark ages.”

Suddenly, the massive skyline of Boston flickered.

Then, block by block, the city went completely, terrifyingly dark.

Only one building remained lit in the distance.

The central police precinct.

“He’s keeping her where he thinks he’s untouchable,” Victor said, pulling a spare magazine from his wet coat. “Let’s go get your daughter.”

As they stood to move, a heavy, metallic click sounded behind them.

Standing on the rocks, illuminated by the moonlight, was Elise. The timid, young bakery cashier.

And she was holding a shotgun aimed directly at Victor’s chest.

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