Chapter 5 - The Midnight Audit
Downstairs in the private study, the air was thick with the scent of bourbon and burning cedar from the massive stone fireplace.
Mateo sat behind a heavy oak desk, staring at a laptop screen displaying high-resolution security footage from the Marlowe Foundation Gala. He played the clip in slow motion, watching the chaos unfold frame by frame.
The door opened silently, and Enzo stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him.
“The perimeter is secure,” Enzo reported, his face grim. “We ran background checks on the four gunmen from the hotel. They weren't freelance hitmen. Their encrypted comms trace back to a shell company registered in Delaware—a front owned by Arthur’s nephew.”
Mateo didn't look up from the screen. His expression remained an unreadable mask of ice.
“Arthur was playing a very long game,” Mateo murmured. “He thought age had made me blind.”
“What do we do with him?” Enzo asked, his hand resting near his holster. “He’s still inside the main compound. He doesn't know we've connected the dots yet.”
“Let him wander in his illusion of safety a little longer,” Mateo said quietly. “A traitor needs to feel confident before he makes his final mistake.”
Enzo hesitated, shifting his weight. “And the girl, boss? She’s a civilian. If Arthur realizes she saw him kick that gun, she won't just be a witness anymore. She’ll become his primary target.”
Mateo finally closed the laptop lid, the sharp click echoing in the quiet room. He stood up, walking slowly toward the towering arched windows that looked out over the dark river.
“She stays in the east wing,” Mateo said. “And no one touches her.”
“You’re risking a lot for an event planner, Mateo.”
“I’m not risking anything,” Mateo replied, his pale blue eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. “I’m securing my investment. She is the only witness who can corroborate Arthur’s treason in a tribunal.”
May you like
“Or,” Enzo added pointedly, “she’s the first woman in ten years you didn't throw out of your life before dawn.”
Mateo didn't answer. He simply stared out into the dark night, watching the fog roll across the water.
