Chapter 8 - The DebtNatasha left the nursery.
She did not run. She refused to give Simon the satisfaction of seeing her frightened.
But every step felt uncertain.
Vincent had purchased her debt.
He had known about her before she ever walked into Crestwood House.
The job offer was not an accident.
The restaurant was not random.
The twins’ crisis had been designed to bring her into Simon’s life.
Simon followed her into the hallway.
“Natasha.”
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t you?”
He stopped.
“Did you know my name before tonight?”
“No.”
“Did your security team investigate me?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After you calmed the twins.”
“So Vincent knew who I was before you did.”
“I swear—”
“Don’t swear. Explain.”
Simon looked furious, but not at her.
At himself.
“I had nothing to do with your debt.”
“Your uncle owns it.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You expect me to believe you never look at the companies your family controls?”
“Not every company.”
“Convenient.”
He stepped closer.
“You think I recruited you because of the debt?”
“I think someone arranged every step.”
“I recruited you because you saved my sons.”
“Maybe you were meant to find me.”
That silenced him.
Natasha’s phone rang.
The number was blocked.
She answered.
Vincent’s voice came through.
“You’re learning quickly.”
Simon reached for the phone.
Natasha moved away.
“What do you want?”
“Your employer.”
“Simon?”
“More precisely, his obedience.”
“Why use me?”
“Because people like you are useful. Poor enough to be desperate. Proud enough to believe you cannot be bought.”
Natasha felt Simon watching her.
“You bought my debt.”
“I gave you a chance to live without it.”
“You caused it?”
“No. But I made certain it remained impossible to pay.”
Her hand trembled.
Vincent continued.
“Your hospital debt was transferred to a company that increased the interest rate every month. You could have worked until you died and never cleared it.”
“Why?”
“To make sure you would accept the job.”
“You knew about the twins.”
“I knew Simon would need you.”
“What do you want from him?”
“You will ask him to sign over control of the Gambino medical network.”
“And if he refuses?”
“Then the twins will be removed permanently.”
The call ended.
Simon approached.
“What did he say?”
Natasha looked at him.
“He wants your medical network.”
Simon’s face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because it contains the evidence.”
Dr. Mason had left the memory card with the security team. The evidence could destroy Vincent, but only if it reached federal investigators.
Simon looked toward the nursery.
“He’ll kill the boys.”
“Or use the court to take them.”
Simon’s jaw tightened.
“What did he say about you?”
“That he owns my debt.”
“I’ll pay it.”
“No.”
“Natasha—”
“I don’t want your money.”
“You want freedom? I can give you that.”
“You can’t buy back the last six months of my life.”
He looked wounded.
She hated that she noticed.
Then a gunshot cracked through the penthouse.
The nursery lights went out.
The babies began screaming.
Simon grabbed Natasha and pulled her behind the stone column as bullets struck the hallway wall.
His security team returned fire.
Someone had entered through the roof.
Simon looked toward the nursery.
“Stay here.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No.”
“The twins are in there.”
“So are armed men.”
“Then move.”
They ran together.
A masked intruder stood beside the nursery door with a gun aimed toward the crib.
Simon fired first.
The intruder dropped.
The weapon skidded across the floor.
Natasha rushed to the babies.
Leo was crying. Luca had begun shaking.
She lifted both hands.
Three beats.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
Simon stood over the fallen attacker.
He pulled away the mask.
The man was one of Vincent’s guards.
Pinned inside his jacket was a photograph.
It showed Natasha leaving the restaurant with Simon.
May you like
On the back, four words had been written:
The waitress is next.
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