Chapter 12 - The Phantom Call
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"He’s alive?" Madeline breathed, grabbing the edge of the kitchen counter. Relief washed over her, immediately followed by blinding anger. "Where is he?"
"My men are tracking the ATM camera feed right now," Gabriel said, pouring her a cup of black coffee and sliding it across the counter. "But he made a mistake. By pinging that account, he didn't just alert my guys. He alerted Victor Romano's network."
Madeline’s hands shook as she picked up the mug. "Victor doesn't know Nathan. Why would he care?"
"Because Victor knows who you are now," Gabriel explained patiently. "He knows you were with me. He knows you have the ring. Victor will use your brother to get to you, and use you to get to me."
Before Madeline could process the tangled web of mafia politics, the burner phone on the kitchen table buzzed violently.
Gabriel stared at it. Nobody had this number except Dominic. But the caller ID flashed: UNKNOWN.
Gabriel hit speakerphone. "Speak."
Static crackled through the line. Then, a terrified, breathless voice echoed in the small cabin.
"Maddie? Maddie, are you there?"
Madeline lunged toward the phone. "Nathan?! Oh my god, Nathan, where are you?"
"Maddie, listen to me, you have to help me," Nathan sobbed into the receiver. "I messed up. I messed up so bad. They have me in a warehouse off Navy Pier. They said if you don't bring the ring, they’re going to kill me."
Gabriel reached out and instantly disconnected the call.
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"What are you doing?!" Madeline screamed, grabbing for the phone. "That was my brother!"
"It was a trap," Gabriel snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously. "And you are not walking into it."
