Chapter 4 - Sophie Relives Her Father Past Under Pressure
I took a deep breath, letting my fingers trace the worn leather cover of the reserve list. The memories of my childhood came flooding back, sharp and painful after years of forced burial.
"We lived in Paris when I was little, right near the Seine," I began, my voice steadying slightly. "My father was a diplomat who handled maritime logistics for European relief initiatives."
"He worked with international shipping manifests every single day," Alessandro noted, nodding slowly. "He knew every port authority from Marseille to New York."
"One night, men in dark suits came to our apartment while it was still raining," I continued, closing my eyes. "They told my father to sign a document transferring control of shipping lane fourteen to Black Star."
"And when he refused?" Alessandro asked, his eyes darkening with dangerous intent. "They said he was a gambler who had lost eight million dollars of state funds at the tables."
"A classic intelligence playbook," Alessandro muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Destroy a man's reputation so thoroughly that no one believes his accusations."
"We ran across Europe with false passports for fifteen years," I whispered, opening my eyes to look at him. "He died in a damp motel room in Montreal, whispering about container seventeen."
May you like
"And tonight, that container number appeared inside my restaurant," Alessandro said, his tone turning razor-sharp. "Which means whoever framed your father is sitting right here in Manhattan, using my establishment as a laundering front."
"Monsieur Laurent knew," I realized aloud. "He didn't just run away because he was scared; he ran because he recognized the code."
Related Stories
