Chapter 8 - Roman Marcel Came Upstairs Without a Weapon

The penthouse was locked down before sunset.

Guests gone.

Staff sent home.

Mara refused to leave.

Dante argued once.

She said:

"If Roman waited two years for that ring, leaving me in a car is not safer."

He stopped arguing.

Good.

Roman Marcel came upstairs at 7:40 p.m.

Not through the service elevator.

Not through a broken door.

He used an old family access credential.

Rafe's men met him in the private lobby.

Roman raised both hands.

Sixty-eight.

Silver hair.

Dark overcoat.

No visible weapon.

He looked at Dante.

"Still dramatic."

Dante said:

"Still alive."

Roman smiled.

"For now."

Mara stood near the west foyer.

The orchids were gone.

Roman saw her.

"Thomas's girl."

Mara's stomach turned.

"You knew my father."

"Very well."

"You killed him."

Roman did not answer immediately.

Then:

"Yes."

Silence.

No denial.

No excuse.

Mara felt something inside her become very quiet.

Dante stepped forward.

Roman looked at him.

"Do not perform anger for her."

Dante's expression hardened.

Roman continued:

"Your father knew what I was."

"He still left Thomas exposed."

Dante said:

"My father is dead."

Roman smiled.

"Which father?"

Silence.

Mara frowned.

Dante did too.

Roman looked toward the ring case.

Then at Mara.

"Gianni Marcel is not dead."

Dante stared.

"No."

"Yes."

"He died nine years ago."

"Officially."

Mara almost laughed from exhaustion.

Of course.

Another dead man.

Roman continued:

"Gianni left after Thomas was killed."

Dante's jaw tightened.

"Why?"

"Because he knew I would come for him next."

"You let me bury him."

Roman shrugged.

"He let you."

That was worse.

Dante looked at Rafe.

"Verify."

Rafe was already moving.

Roman sat without being invited.

Mara asked:

"Why did you kill my father?"

He looked at her.

"Because he had the trust documents."

"That simple?"

"No."

Roman folded his hands.

"He also had evidence linking me to port theft."

"Did Arthur know?"

"Some."

"Did Gianni?"

"Most."

"Did Dante?"

"No."

Mara glanced at Dante.

Roman continued:

"Your father was supposed to hand the file to federal investigators."

"What stopped him?"

"I did."

"How?"

Roman looked at her scar.

The small one on her forearm.

Then said:

"Car accident."

Mara's face changed.

Her father had died at a construction site.

Or so she had been told.

Roman smiled faintly.

"That story came later."

Dante's voice went cold.

"Enough."

Roman looked at him.

"You asked him to talk."

"I didn't ask him to enjoy it."

Mara said:

"Let him."

Dante looked at her.

She nodded.

Roman continued.

Thomas's car was forced off a service road.

He survived the crash.

Roman's men took the files.

Thomas refused to give the trust key.

They left him injured near an active construction zone.

He died there.

Mara closed her eyes.

Not an accident.

Not immediate.

Her father had survived long enough to refuse.

Roman said:

"He was stubborn."

Mara opened her eyes.

"So am I."

Roman's smile disappeared.

Good.

Then Dante asked:

"Why wait for the ring?"

"Because Gianni moved the physical key."

"How did you know it would return?"

"Sienna."

Mara turned.

Roman continued:

"Arthur told her the ring belonged at the engagement."

"She insisted on it."

"Arthur told Petra."

"Petra told me."

Dante's expression hardened.

"Sienna did not know you were involved."

"No."

"Arthur?"

"Suspected."

Mara asked:

"What did you plan to do after activation?"

Roman looked at her.

"Buy you out."

She almost laughed.

"And if I refused?"

Roman did not answer.

That was answer enough.

Dante stepped closer.

Rafe returned.

His face had changed.

"Dante."

"What?"

"We found Gianni."

Roman leaned back.

Dante stared.

"Where?"

"Brooklyn."

Silence.

Twenty minutes away.

Rafe continued:

"Assisted living facility."

Dante's face emptied.

Roman smiled sadly.

"He came home months ago."

Dante looked at him.

"You knew."

"Yes."

"Why didn't he contact me?"

Roman's smile faded.

"Because he thought if he saw you, he'd have to tell you what he did to Thomas."

Mara stared.

"What did he do?"

Roman looked at her.

"Your father asked Gianni for protection."

Dante stopped breathing.

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Roman continued:

"Gianni refused."