Chapter 5 - The Kiss Nobody Expected
Vincent did not sleep that night.
He spent hours reviewing files connected to Marcus Vale.
Most of them were clean.
Too clean.
That was the problem.
Marcus had spent years building a legitimate corporate profile while quietly moving money through properties.
Someone had covered his tracks.
Someone inside Martell Holdings.
Someone with access to every contract, every account, every legal filing.
Isabel Crane.
At eight the next morning, Vincent confronted her.
“You altered the Roselli’s lease.”
Isabel didn't look surprised.
“You're finally asking the right question.”
“Why?”
“To force the restaurant out.”
“Why?”
She closed the file on her desk.
“You're wasting your time.”
“I'm not.”
She looked at him.
“You have always been soft when it comes to loyalty.”
“And you've always been careless when it comes to betrayal.”
Her expression hardened.
“You should thank me.”
Vincent laughed once.
“That's new.”
“The restaurant sits on valuable property.”
“I know.”
“There are investors ready to pay.”
“Marcus?”
“Others.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I corrected a mistake.”
Vincent leaned forward.
“Don't call fraud a correction.”
Isabel stood.
“Your father would have understood.”
“My father is dead.”
“His organization isn't.”
Vincent stared at her.
“What did you say?”
Isabel walked to the window.
“You think you've escaped the past because you stopped attending meetings.”
She turned.
“You didn't.”
Vincent's voice became quiet.
“You're threatening me.”
“I'm warning you.”
“About Marcus?”
“About the man behind Marcus.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Isabel smiled.
“You really don't know.”
Before she could continue, Vincent's phone rang.
Nico.
“We have a problem.”
Vincent answered.
“What?”
“Grace is gone.”
Everything inside Vincent stopped.
“Where?”
“Roselli’s.”
“What happened?”
“The security camera went offline for six minutes.”
Vincent left immediately.
He arrived at Roselli’s in less than ten minutes.
The restaurant was empty.
A broken coffee cup lay near the counter.
Jenna was crying.
“She came in early.”
Vincent's voice stayed calm.
“Who else was here?”
“Grace. Me. Maria.”
“Then what happened?”
“A man came in pretending to be a delivery driver.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“What did he look like?”
“Dark jacket. Baseball cap.”
“Which way?”
Jenna pointed toward the alley.
Vincent ran.
Nico followed.
They found the van two blocks away.
Empty.
Inside was Grace's phone.
And a note.
Vincent opened it.
COME ALONE.
Nico grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Vincent pulled away.
“She has my trust.”
“And I have your back.”
“This isn't negotiable.”
Nico stared at him.
“If you go alone, you might die.”
Vincent looked at the empty street.
“I've risked my life before.”
He clenched the note.
“This time, it's hers.”
But Grace wasn't inside the van.
She was inside an abandoned warehouse.
And she wasn't alone.
Marcus stood across from her.
“I don't want to hurt you.”
Grace glared.
“Then you're doing a terrible job.”
Marcus smiled.
“You have no idea how important you are.”
“I hear that often.”
“Your mother hid something.”
“The ledger.”
“Yes.”
“And you think I know where it is.”
“I think she left you a clue.”
Grace remained silent.
Marcus moved closer.
“You're protecting Vincent.”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“I saw the way you look at him.”
Grace laughed.
“You've been watching too many movies.”
Marcus's smile disappeared.
“Where's the ledger?”
“I don't know.”
He slapped the table beside her.
Grace didn't flinch.
“You should be afraid.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
“But not of you.”
Marcus frowned.
Grace smiled.
“Because you made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You kidnapped the manager of a restaurant.”
She leaned forward.
“You didn't kidnap a helpless woman.”
Marcus's men suddenly heard sirens.
They looked toward the loading dock.
Marcus turned.
Vincent appeared.
He had come with police.
Grace's eyes widened.
Vincent had done what she never expected.
He had involved law enforcement.
Marcus stared at him.
“You?”
Vincent stepped forward.
“This ends tonight.”
Marcus laughed.
“You can't walk away from what you are.”
Vincent looked at him.
“Watch me.”
The police moved in.
Marcus was arrested.
Grace was released.
But Vincent stayed behind.
He wouldn't look at her.
She finally walked over.
“You brought the police.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I can't solve everything with the methods that built my empire.”
She studied him.
“That must have been hard.”
“It was.”
Vincent turned toward her.
“I want out.”
Grace became still.
“Out of what?”
“All of it.”
“The mafia.”
“The illegal operations. The corruption. The fear.”
He swallowed.
“I've spent half my life believing control meant safety.”
“And now?”
“Now I understand control without trust is just another prison.”
Grace stepped closer.
“Vincent.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
She smiled gently.
“You're not alone.”
For the first time in years, Vincent allowed himself to believe it.
Then Grace kissed him.
It was brief.
Unexpected.
Soft.
When they separated, Vincent stared at her in disbelief.
“You kissed me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you looked like you were going to overthink everything for another decade.”
A real smile appeared on his face.
“That is possibly the strangest reason anyone has ever kissed me.”
Grace laughed.
“Get used to strange.”
Vincent touched her cheek.
“I can.”
Neither knew that someone was watching from a parked car across the street.
Isabel Crane.
She watched the two of them together.
Then she made one phone call.
“He has chosen her.”
A voice answered.
“Then use her.”
May you like
Isabel smiled.
“For once, we agree.”
