Chapter 6 - THE ALLIANCEThe following weeks were a blur of shadows and strategy. I moved into the Falcone estate, not as a prisoner, but as a ghost. Ricardo was desperate to keep me alive because my life was the only thing standing between him and a federal prison sentence.
I spent my nights decoding the microchip from Nero’s collar. It wasn't just a list of names; it was a blueprint of a human trafficking ring operating under the guise of an animal import company. Names, bank accounts, and photos—the evidence was staggering.
Ricardo and I began a strange dance. We were enemies, bound by a secret and the life of a dog. He watched me with suspicion, but every day, I saw him start to soften, start to question the life he had built.
"Why did you really switch shifts that night?" he asked one evening, finding me in the conservatory, feeding Nero a slice of steak.
"I told you. Marcus had a sick kid."
"I checked. There is no Marcus on the day crew."
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I froze. "I don't know what to tell you."
"I think you were sent," he whispered, stepping closer. "By someone who knew you could get through to me."
