Chapter 15: The Woman Who Refused to Die

Vincent lowered his phone slowly.

His face had become unreadable.

"The ambulance disappeared," he repeated.

"Every GPS signal went dead halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge."

I felt my heartbeat quicken.

"An entire ambulance doesn't just disappear."

"Unless someone planned it," Lucas replied.

"And judging by everything we've seen, they did."

The three of us hurried out of the underground vault.

Police officers were still securing the explosion site, unaware that one of the most important witnesses had vanished.

"Call every hospital," Vincent ordered.

"Check every security camera between the bridge and the medical center."

"Already doing it," Lucas answered.

Within minutes, Vincent's security team began sending reports.

None of them were good.

Every traffic camera near the bridge had mysteriously gone offline for exactly six minutes.

Long enough for an ambulance to disappear.

"Professional," Vincent muttered.

"Whoever we're dealing with has resources far beyond ordinary criminals."

I looked down at the leather ledger still in my hands.

The silver raven embossed on the cover seemed darker than before.

"This organization has been operating for years," I whispered.

"Maybe decades."

"And someone inside my family has been protecting them."

Vincent looked at me.

"We're going to find out who."

"No," I replied.

"We're going to make them come to us."

Lucas frowned.

"What are you thinking?"

"The people behind this believe Evelyn is dead or under their control."

"If we leak the story that she survived and is ready to testify tomorrow morning..."

"They'll panic," Vincent finished.

"Exactly."

"And when they panic, they'll make mistakes."

For the first time that night, Vincent smiled.

"That's exactly what I would've suggested."

"I'm learning from the best."

"No," he answered quietly.

"You're becoming better than me."

An hour later, the false story was quietly leaked through trusted media contacts.

The headline spread quickly.

Key Witness Expected to Reveal Truth Behind Romano Explosion.

It was a lie.

But it was one we hoped our enemies would believe.

Meanwhile, Vincent moved me to one of his safest properties.

A secluded townhouse overlooking the Hudson River.

"No one outside this room knows you're here," he said.

"Then why do I still feel like someone is watching us?"

"Because after everything that's happened, you're expecting danger."

"Am I wrong?"

He didn't answer.

Around midnight, Lucas burst through the front door carrying his laptop.

"It worked," he announced.

"Someone took the bait."

"Explain."

"The moment the news about Evelyn spread, three encrypted phone numbers became active after weeks of silence."

"Can you trace them?"

"One already stopped transmitting."

"The second is moving across Queens."

"The third..."

He hesitated.

"Where?" Vincent asked.

"Inside Romano Manor."

My eyes widened.

"Someone at my father's estate is coordinating all of this?"

"Looks that way."

"Let's go," I said.

"Absolutely not," Vincent replied immediately.

"It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous is waiting here while they erase more evidence."

"Sophia—"

"No."

"I've spent years letting other people decide what's best for me."

"Not anymore."

Vincent stared at me for several long seconds.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine."

"But you stay beside me every second."

"Deal."

Less than thirty minutes later, we quietly entered Romano Manor through the rear entrance.

Most of the house was dark.

Only Father's study remained illuminated.

"The signal is coming from upstairs," Lucas whispered.

"Second floor."

We moved silently through the hallway.

As we approached the study, voices became clearer.

One belonged to my father.

The other was unfamiliar.

"This has gone too far," Father said.

"She wasn't supposed to survive."

My heart stopped.

"Plans change," the stranger replied calmly.

"Now Moretti has the ledger."

"Then take it back."

"Not until the final names are crossed off."

"And Sophia?"

"She dies after the wedding announcement."

I covered my mouth to stop myself from gasping.

Vincent's jaw tightened.

Lucas quietly activated the recorder on his phone.

The conversation continued.

"You're sure Moretti doesn't suspect you?" the stranger asked.

"He suspects everyone except the person standing right beside him."

I frowned.

What did that mean?

Suddenly, a floorboard creaked beneath Lucas's foot.

The voices inside stopped instantly.

"Someone's outside," the stranger said.

The study door flew open.

A masked man sprinted past us before anyone could react.

"Stop him!" Vincent shouted.

The chase exploded through the mansion.

The man knocked over furniture, smashed a window, and leaped into the garden.

Vincent followed close behind.

Lucas took the opposite route.

I ran toward the front driveway.

The masked man reached a waiting motorcycle.

Just as he started the engine, I grabbed the helmet from behind.

It slipped off.

For one brief second, I saw his face clearly beneath the moonlight.

I froze.

It wasn't a stranger.

It wasn't one of Father's bodyguards.

It wasn't anyone connected to the Romano family.

It was someone I had trusted.

Someone who had stood beside Vincent for years.

"No..." I whispered.

The man smiled coldly before speeding into the darkness.

Seconds later, Vincent reached me.

"Did you see him?"

I looked up, still unable to believe what I'd witnessed.

"Yes."

"Who was it?"

My voice trembled.

"Lucas."

"The man wearing the mask..."

"Had Lucas's face."