Chapter 10 - THE RESTAURANT WHERE IT BEGAN
Lombardi's was closed when police arrived.
The lights were on.
The doors were locked.
Arthur stood behind the bar.
Tommy held a weapon.
Roman remained outside with investigators.
Sadie waited in a secured vehicle.
Rebecca negotiated.
Tommy demanded money.
Safe passage.
And the evidence Elena had collected.
Roman listened through the communication channel.
His face was grim.
Then Tommy said something unexpected.
“I never wanted the girl hurt.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Which girl?”
Tommy hesitated.
“Nora.”
Sadie went still.
Tommy continued.
“Vittorio wanted her dead three years ago.”
Roman closed his eyes.
“I convinced him she was already gone.”
Sadie stared.
Tommy had betrayed Roman.
But he had also helped keep her alive.
Rebecca continued negotiating.
After nearly two hours, Tommy surrendered.
Arthur was rescued unharmed.
Tommy was arrested.
During questioning, he admitted helping Vittorio locate Elena.
He also revealed the location of a storage facility containing financial records.
The records connected Vittorio to years of trafficking, extortion, and murder.
But the most important document was a ledger.
A list of payments.
Names.
Dates.
And one entry that made Sadie stop breathing.
NORA BENNETT — AUTHORIZED TRANSFER.
She stared.
Roman looked at her.
His face went pale.
Sadie whispered:
“What does that mean?”
Rebecca examined the ledger.
May you like
Then looked up.
“Someone paid to have you taken.”
