Chapter 6 - Leo’s Father Wanted the Empire to Break Itself

Gabriel stared at Anthony Mercer.

“You killed Paulie to start a loyalty war.”

Anthony nodded.

“Paulie was going to kill my son.”

“You could have warned me.”

“You would have protected Paulie.”

Gabriel said nothing.

That silence was enough.

Anthony smiled.

“Exactly.”

Rosa looked at Gabriel.

“Would you?”

Gabriel’s face tightened.

“I don’t know.”

Rosa nodded sadly.

“That is the problem.”

Anthony continued:

“Paulie trusted you.”

“Leo trusts you.”

“Evan feared you.”

“Your whole empire is built on men guessing what you want before you say it.”

Gabriel stepped closer.

“So you killed one of them.”

“Yes.”

“To teach me a lesson.”

“No.”

Anthony smiled.

“To destroy what you built.”

Norah felt the room change.

Gabriel’s voice lowered.

“Why?”

Anthony looked at Rosa.

Then back.

“Because your empire started with my money.”

Gabriel frowned.

“What?”

Anthony laughed.

“You really don’t know.”

Rosa closed her eyes.

Gabriel turned.

“Rosa.”

She whispered:

“Anthony funded the first card room.”

Gabriel stared.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I stole that money.”

Anthony smiled.

“From a car.”

Gabriel remembered.

Twenty-two.

Three men.

A stolen sedan.

Cash in the trunk.

That money became the basement card game.

The card game became everything.

Anthony continued:

“My car.”

Silence.

“You stole eighty thousand dollars from me.”

Gabriel laughed once.

“You were collecting for bookmakers.”

“Yes.”

“You want sympathy?”

“No.”

Anthony’s eyes hardened.

“I want recognition.”

Gabriel stared.

Anthony continued:

“You built your kingdom on a theft from mine.”

“And waited seventeen years to care?”

“I cared immediately.”

“Then why not come for me?”

“Because Rosa asked me not to.”

Gabriel looked at her.

She nodded.

“I told him you were still a boy.”

“I was twenty-two.”

“You were still a boy.”

Gabriel almost argued.

Didn’t.

Anthony said:

“She convinced me the money had already ruined enough people.”

“So you let it go.”

“I let you live.”

Gabriel’s face hardened.

Anthony smiled.

“Do not confuse those.”

Norah watched Gabriel’s hands.

Still.

Too still.

Then a voice came from behind them.

“Dad.”

Leo.

Gabriel turned.

Leo had entered anyway.

Anthony looked at his son.

“Leo.”

Leo stared.

“You’re alive.”

“Yes.”

“Ten years.”

“Yes.”

Leo laughed bitterly.

“Everyone is alive.”

Rosa almost smiled.

Anthony did not.

Leo stepped closer.

“You faked your death.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To protect Evan.”

Leo closed his eyes.

“Of course.”

Anthony continued:

“Federal agents wanted leverage.”

“I disappeared.”

“Evan stayed.”

“And went to prison.”

Leo stared.

“You protected him brilliantly.”

Anthony flinched.

Then Leo asked:

“Did you poison Paulie?”

“Yes.”

No excuse.

Leo’s face changed.

“You murdered my friend.”

Anthony replied:

“He was going to murder your brother.”

Leo’s voice broke.

“So you decided.”

“Yes.”

“Without telling me.”

“Yes.”

The same pattern.

Norah saw it before any of them said it.

Gabriel did too.

He looked at Rosa.

She looked back.

Families.

Crews.

Empires.

All of them making decisions for other people.

Then Gabriel asked:

“Where is Evan?”

Anthony’s face changed.

Rosa whispered:

“He’s missing.”

Leo turned.

“What?”

Anthony continued:

“Three days ago.”

“From where?”

“A safe house.”

Gabriel stared.

“Who knew the location?”

“Four people.”

“Names.”

Anthony hesitated.

Gabriel stepped closer.

“Names.”

“Me.”

“Rosa.”

“Martin Keane.”

“And…”

Anthony looked at Leo.

Leo’s face changed.

“Who?”

Anthony answered:

“Your mother.”

Silence.

Leo whispered:

“My mother died fifteen years ago.”

Anthony shook his head.

“No.”

Leo laughed once.

Then stopped.

Gabriel closed his eyes.

Another one.

Another dead parent.

Anthony continued:

“She is alive.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Leo stared.

Anthony added:

“But Evan does.”

Then Norah’s phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

A photograph.

Evan Mercer.

Alive.

Tied to a chair.

Behind him stood a woman.

Older.

Dark hair streaked gray.

Leo stared.

His mother.

Under the image:

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BRING GABRIEL HAYES TO THE OLD MERCER HOUSE.

MIDNIGHT.