Chapter 7 - The Hunt for the Truth
The private hangar at Midway Airport was cold, smelling of aviation fuel and wet asphalt. Paul Marino stood near the boarding stairs of a twin-engine Cessna, his hands shaking as he tried to light a cigarette in the driving wind. Two of Lorenzo Marcone’s remaining guards stood near the tail of the plane, their eyes scanning the dark perimeter of the airfield.
"Hurry up!" Paul yelled at the pilot through the open cabin door. "The weather's clearing. We need to get wheels up now!"
"You're not going to Miami, Paul," a voice called out from the darkness of the hangar doors.
Paul dropped his cigarette, his entire body going rigid.
Roman Castello stepped into the dim light of the hangar, his long black coat billowing in the wind. He was alone, his hands buried deep in his pockets, but the sheer aura of death radiating from him made the two Marcone guards instantly reach for their weapons.
They didn't even clear their holsters.
Two silent flashes erupted from the shadows behind Roman. Donovan and another sniper took the guards down with surgical precision, their bodies collapsing onto the wet tarmac without a sound.
Paul fell to his knees, his hands rising above his head as he began to sob. "Roman! Please! They forced me! Lorenzo said he’d kill my sister’s kids if I didn't give them the security bypass! I didn't have a choice!"
Roman walked over slowly, his heavy boots stopping inches from Paul’s trembling hands. He reached down, grabbed Paul by the collar of his expensive leather jacket, and lifted him effortlessly to his feet.
"Where is Dr. Vance, Paul?" Roman asked, his voice entirely devoid of emotion.
"I don't know! I swear to God I don't know!"
Roman increased the pressure on Paul’s throat until the man’s face turned a deep, dark purple. "I don't have time for lies, Paul. My children are at home sleeping, and I promised their mother I’d be back for breakfast. Where is the doctor?"
"He's... he's at Lorenzo’s safehouse!" Paul choked out, his legs kicking uselessly in the air. "The old winery in Elgin! Lorenzo’s keeping him there until the documents are verified by the commission tomorrow morning! He’s got the original birth records, Roman! The ones that prove the babies belong to Pamela!"
Roman stared into Paul’s terrified eyes for a long moment, then tossed him away like a piece of garbage. Paul hit the wet tarmac hard, coughing and gasping for air.
"Donovan," Roman said, turning his back on the traitor.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Take him to the cellar. He stays there until the commission meeting tomorrow. If he tries to breathe too loudly, silence him."
Roman walked back toward his SUV, pulling his phone from his pocket. He dialed the estate. Pamela answered on the first ring.
"Roman?" her voice was frantic but clear.
"I found him, Pamela," Roman said, his voice softening as he looked back toward the city skyline. "He's in Elgin. Lorenzo has Dr. Vance and the records. I'm going there now."
"I'm coming with you," Pamela said instantly.
"No. It's too dangerous—"
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"They are my children’s birth records, Roman!" Pamela shouted through the line, her voice filled with an authority that left no room for argument. "I am the one who was broken in that hospital. I am the one who needs to look that doctor in the eye. I'm already in the car with Donovan’s backup crew. Meet me at the highway junction."
Roman let out a low, rough laugh, a sound of pure admiration. "You really are a Castello, Pamela Hayes. See you at the junction."
