Chapter 9 - THE BETRAYAL BESIDE HIM
Elena was thinner than Sadie remembered.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face carried lines that hadn't been there three years earlier.
But when Sadie entered the hospital room, Elena stood.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Sadie ran.
They collided in the middle of the room.
Elena began sobbing.
“I'm sorry.”
Sadie held her tighter.
“Don't.”
“I wanted to tell you.”
“I know.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. You don't.”
They sat together for hours.
Elena explained how she had discovered Vittorio's trafficking network.
How Roman helped her escape.
How the threat against Sadie forced them to keep the truth hidden.
Sadie listened.
Then asked:
“Why didn't you contact me when you were safe?”
Elena looked down.
“Because someone kept finding us.”
Sadie's stomach tightened.
Elena continued.
“Every time I tried to reach you, someone knew.”
Roman stood near the doorway.
His expression darkened.
Elena looked at him.
“Tommy.”
The room went silent.
Sadie turned.
“Tommy?”
Elena nodded.
“He was feeding information to Vittorio.”
Roman stared.
Tommy had been his closest protector.
His driver.
His shadow.
The man who stood behind him at Lombardi's.
Roman's jaw tightened.
Rebecca entered.
“We've confirmed it.”
She placed a photograph on the table.
Tommy meeting Vittorio.
Three weeks earlier.
Sadie stared.
Roman looked away.
Another betrayal.
Another man he'd trusted.
Then his phone rang.
Tommy.
Roman answered.
“Boss.”
Roman said nothing.
Tommy continued.
“I hear you found the girls.”
Roman's voice was ice.
“Where are you?”
Tommy laughed.
“Somewhere you won't like.”
A photograph arrived.
Lombardi's.
Arthur standing beside the bar.
Terrified.
Tommy spoke again.
“Come alone.”
Roman looked at Sadie.
And for the first time, she saw the man she'd once loved choose not to react with violence.
May you like
He handed the phone to Rebecca.
“Trace it.”
