Chapter 9 - The Final Trap
I drove my rented sedan through the winding back roads of Tuscany with my headlights turned off, relying entirely on the pale moonlight to guide me. The encrypted flash drive and Marco’s journal rested securely on the passenger seat beside me.
My destination wasn't the police station. Dante had corrupt cops in his pocket just like Vittorio did.
My destination was the federal prosecutor's safe house in Florence.
At 4:00 AM, I slammed my car into park outside an unassuming, heavily guarded brownstone building in the historic district. I bounded up the stone steps and pounded on the heavy oak door.
The door swung open instantly. Matteo Rossi stood there, dressed in a bathrobe, holding a pistol, looking utterly shocked.
"Elena? What in God's name—"
"Dante Althaus sent hitmen to my estate tonight," I cut him off, breathless, shoving past him into the hallway and pulling the flash drive and journal from my jacket. "They’re trying to recover this. It’s the master file on their entire international criminal syndicate."
Matteo stared at the flash drive, his eyes widening in disbelief. He immediately walked over to a secure terminal in his home office, plugged in the drive, and began pulling up the decrypted files.
Within minutes, the screen filled with bank accounts, wire transfers, shipping manifests, and audio recordings of Dante and Vittorio discussing international crimes.
"This isn't just corporate fraud, Elena," Matteo whispered, running a hand through his hair. "This is a global RICO case. This will put Dante Althaus behind bars for the rest of his natural life."
"Good," I said, laying Marco’s journal flat on the desk. "And use this to ensure Vittorio never sees daylight again either."
May you like
"We need to move fast," Matteo said, picking up his encrypted desk phone. "If Dante realizes his men failed, he’ll try to flee the country by dawn."
"He won't have to run," I replied coldly, walking over to the window and looking out into the misty dawn. "We’re going to deliver the evidence straight to him."
