Chapter 14 - Atlantic City
---
The drive took four hours. We left at midnight. We arrived at dawn.
The casino was called "The Sea Breeze." A crumbling building on the wrong side of the boardwalk. Not a place for tourists. A place for people who didn't want to be seen.
Danny was somewhere inside. Hiding. Scared.
We had a plan. Simple. Go in. Get him. Get out.
Simple. Right.
Karen was staying behind. Sophie too. This was a two-man job. Me and David.
"You sure you want to do this?" David asked.
"He's my cousin."
"He tried to kill you."
"He's still my cousin."
David nodded. Handed me a vest. "Wear this. Just in case."
We walked in through the front door. A man at the counter looked up. Surprised.
"We're closed."
"We're not here to gamble."
David flashed his badge. The man went pale.
"We're looking for Daniel DeLuca."
"Don't know him."
"Wrong answer." David grabbed him by the collar. "Try again."
"Third floor! Room 312! Please don't hurt me!"
We took the stairs. Two at a time. Third floor. Room 312.
I knocked. "Danny? It's Marcus."
Silence.
"Danny. Open up. We're here to help."
Still nothing.
I looked at David. He nodded.
I kicked the door open.
Danny was inside. Sitting on the bed. A gun in his hand. Pointed at his own head.
"Danny. Don't."
"What's the point?" His voice was dead. "They'll kill me anyway. Like they killed Ray."
"No one's going to kill you. We're here to take you home."
"Home?" He laughed. Crazy. "There is no home. Home burned down when we locked Karen in that freezer."
"You made a mistake. We all did."
"Mistake?" He stood up. The gun was shaking. "We tried to kill her. My own cousin. I sat there and watched her freeze."
"You can make it right. Testify. Tell them everything."
"They'll kill me."
"We'll protect you."
"Like you protected Ray?"
"Danny—"
"Shut up!" He aimed the gun at me. "Just shut up!"
David stepped forward. Hands up. "Danny. Listen to me. Your mother. Patricia. She's already in custody."
"She is?"
"She turned herself in last night. She's cooperating."
"Bullshit."
"It's true. She wants to save you. But you have to come with us."
Danny stared at him. Tears in his eyes.
"I don't know what to do."
"Put the gun down. We'll figure it out together."
Danny looked at the gun. At me. At David.
Then he lowered it.
"Okay."
David took the gun. Cuffed him. Gently.
"Let's go."
We walked out of the casino. Nobody stopped us. Nobody even looked.
The car was waiting. Karen. Sophie.
Danny saw Karen and started crying. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Karen didn't say anything. Just looked at him. Cold.
We drove away. Atlantic City disappearing in the rearview mirror.
One down. One to go.
---
May you like
If you enjoyed the story, bookmark my site: https://vibe.treeiq.biz New stories are posted daily, so check back for updates.
---
