Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Photograph
The storage unit was hidden beneath an abandoned commercial building near the harbor.
Vincent arrived with Grace just after sunset.
Nico stayed outside.
Grace looked at the rusted gate.
“This place is cheerful.”
Vincent glanced at her.
“You use humor when you're nervous.”
“You use silence.”
“It works.”
“Not on me.”
“I've noticed.”
They entered.
The key turned easily.
Inside was a small room filled with dusty boxes.
There were no weapons.
No money.
No obvious evidence.
Just documents.
Photographs.
Old receipts.
And one black suitcase.
Grace knelt beside it.
“That's my mother's.”
Vincent stopped.
“How do you know?”
“Because I used to hide under it when she was angry.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
She opened the suitcase.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
Some were from Daniel.
Others were from someone else.
Grace picked one up.
Dear Eleanor,
If Vincent asks about the ledger, tell him nothing.
Grace’s hands trembled.
“Vincent.”
He read over her shoulder.
His expression changed.
“What ledger?”
“I don't know.”
They opened more letters.
Then Grace found a photograph.
Her mother.
Daniel.
Vincent’s father.
And a fourth person.
A woman with dark hair.
Grace didn't recognize her.
Vincent did.
“Isabel.”
“Who?”
“My father's attorney.”
“You knew her.”
“She worked for my family.”
“And now?”
“She runs the legal division of Martell Holdings.”
Grace stared at him.
“That's convenient.”
Vincent nodded.
“Too convenient.”
A sound came from outside.
Vincent instantly moved in front of Grace.
“What was that?”
“Stay behind me.”
She frowned.
“Don't order me around.”
“Grace.”
His voice was different.
She listened.
The door slammed open.
Two men entered.
Vincent moved first.
The confrontation was fast.
He didn't need a weapon.
His reputation was enough to make one man hesitate.
Nico appeared behind them and forced the second man to the ground.
Within seconds, it was over.
Grace stood frozen.
Vincent turned.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer.
“You're shaking.”
“So are you.”
Vincent looked at his hand.
She was right.
For one second, he seemed almost human instead of untouchable.
Then Grace asked,
“Who sent them?”
Vincent looked at the men.
One refused to speak.
The other whispered,
“Vale.”
Marcus.
Vincent's expression became unreadable.
He looked at Grace.
“I'm taking you home.”
“No.”
“Grace.”
“I want answers.”
“So do I.”
“Then let's get them.”
They returned to Roselli’s after midnight.
Tony was waiting.
Grace placed the photograph on the counter.
“Did you know Isabel?”
Tony stared.
His face went white.
“Yes.”
“What was she doing with my mother and Daniel?”
“I don't know.”
Tony's eyes filled with tears.
“Grace, your mother was helping Daniel.”
“With what?”
“The ledger.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“What ledger?”
Tony looked at him.
“The one your father was searching for.”
Vincent froze.
“My father never found it?”
“No.”
“What was in it?”
“Every payment.”
Tony swallowed.
“Every illegal deal. Every bribe. Every shipment. Every name.”
Grace stared.
“That could destroy half the city.”
“It could destroy everyone who ever helped your family.”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“And Daniel had it?”
“Daniel and your mother.”
“Where is it?”
Tony shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Grace looked toward the photograph.
“Isabel does.”
Vincent nodded.
“That is what I believe.”
The next afternoon, Isabel Crane arrived at Martell Holdings.
She was elegant, controlled, and terrifyingly composed.
She walked into Vincent's office like she owned it.
“Vincent.”
“Isabel.”
Her eyes flicked toward Grace.
“So this is Eleanor's daughter.”
Grace narrowed her eyes.
“You know my mother.”
“I knew her.”
“What happened to her?”
Isabel smiled sadly.
“Your mother made dangerous choices.”
Grace took one step forward.
“You were involved.”
Isabel didn't deny it.
“You're very much like her.”
“What does that mean?”
“She refused to understand the world she was entering.”
Vincent stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Isabel's gaze shifted to him.
“You still protect them.”
“They?”
“Daniel. Tony. Eleanor.”
She looked toward Grace.
“Now her.”
Vincent's voice became colder.
“Leave.”
Isabel smiled.
“You're repeating yourself.”
“And you keep making me.”
She picked up her handbag.
Before leaving, she turned to Grace.
“Your mother didn't die because of Vincent.”
Grace's breath caught.
“She died because she betrayed the wrong person.”
Then she left.
Grace stood frozen.
Vincent looked at her.
“We need to find out who that person was.”
Grace shook her head.
“I think we already know.”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
Vincent went still.
“My father died twelve years ago.”
“Then why does everyone still fear him?”
Vincent didn't answer.
Because he knew something Grace did not.
His father had left behind an organization.
And one person still controlled it.
Marcus Vale.
That night, Vincent received a message from an unknown number.
A photograph arrived.
Grace standing outside Roselli’s.
The message beneath it read:
YOU CAN'T PROTECT HER FOREVER.
Vincent stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Tomorrow.
Eight p.m.
Bring the ledger.
He deleted the messages.
Grace was standing in his doorway.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
She frowned.
“You're terrible at lying.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Tomorrow night, you're staying home.”
She folded her arms.
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
He sighed.
“Grace.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide whether I disappear every time someone threatens me.”
“I am trying to keep you alive.”
“And I'm trying to keep you from carrying everything alone.”
Vincent stared at her.
That sentence reached somewhere no one had reached in years.
He finally whispered,
“I don't know how to do this.”
Grace softened.
“Do what?”
“Trust someone.”
She held his gaze.
May you like
“Then start.”
For one impossible moment, the mafia boss feared nothing except the woman standing in front of him.
