Page 44 of Condemned to You

Chapter Twenty-Six

Luca POV

“You have a crack on the inside,” Cohen commented as we were left in a private room to discuss the issue. “I can argue these one of two ways. One, you’re being framed; or second, if you know who has turned on you I can make sure they take the heat for this and not you.”

Exhaling out in frustration, “Either way looks like I’ll have to be locked up until I get in front of a judge.”

My attorney nodded his head, “But you know the outcome will be in your favor.”

“You understand Branton is practically on his death bed. At some point, he needs to throw in the towel and there’s no one to take his place.”

The D.A. was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer too late to catch. Dealing with chasing a ghost that had haunted my family and not having Emilio, there was no time or energy to ensure potential candidates were scoped out for the position.

“I’m sure his son Hamilton will likely be his successor.”

I shook my head, “He couldn’t give two shits about me. Made it clear he’s looking to keep his political career with clean hands.”

Cohen laughed, “He won’t get far. Politicians who are well known and successful are just as corrupt. Only difference is the law makes you out to be a criminal.”

“Wouldn’t matter anyway. Should his father die, the standing D.A. to take his place in the interim of the next election won’t care about me either. She’s looking to make a name for herself, and having Luca DeCarlo on trial, she’s going to have to pull whatever she can not to lose. You know how dirty they can be too.”

A knock at the door took our attention, Cohen stood up to see who it was. “We aren’t taking any pleas.”

“I need to speak with him.” Although the voice was muffled, I was able to make out who it was.

“Let him in,” I shouted to Cohen.

Stepping aside, Hamilton walked in dressed as though he was ready to make a press release.

“Come to rub this in my face?” I shot at him.

“No,” Hamilton gulped while walking into the room. “May I?” He asked as he motioned to the chair.

“You may,” I replied wondering if he was being snarky or if that was how his manners generally were.

Cohen sat beside me as Hamilton took a seat across from us at the small rectangular table.

“As you may or may not know, my father is ill and his days are numbered. I’ve been handling all of his work as he requested so that you can continue with your activities in the city.” Hamilton took out a pen and paper and rested his briefcase on the chair beside him. He looked at me with such distaste. Little did he know about the history of how the Branton family came to power.

“We don’t have time to hear you rambling,” Cohen stated.

Clearing his throat, “I want to speak to Luca alone.”

Cohen looked to me for confirmation and when I nodded, he got to his feet and left the room. Hamilton was nervous, I could tell by how his breathing changed and his forehead seemed to glisten from the sweat forming there.

“I’m the one who called it in,” Hamilton confessed.

When I leaned forward onto the table, he jumped back in his seat. “Don’t worry,” I mocked, “I won’t hurt you.”

“It was Emilio,” Hamilton blurted out, not trusting I wouldn’t rip the pen out his hand to stab him with it. “He came to me last night. Seizing the shipment was deliberate.”

Hearing Emilio’s name caused a vile uproar within me. I trusted him with every fiber of my being and it shouldn’t have surprised me that he would be the one to betray me. But I knew Emilio well, if he was in the city then that meant Bethany was in trouble. My guess was ghost. He would be the only one who put Emilio in this situation. When Bethany left, her note was simple but when I saw Emilio’s handkerchief that he frequently used to have with his suit left on the dresser – I knew he came back for her. She was safer with him until everything died down.

Emilio also never did anything in a simple fashion. He must be getting followed so contacting me would have been risky but using the D.A., or in this case his son, was a strategic move. That shipment contained a lot of illegal items and if I had to guess, ghost needed them for something, and to interfere with my cargo meant whatever ghost had planned was going to be coming up very soon.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“He needs you here,” Hamilton replied.