Vincenzo stiffened beside me, his hand gripping the edge of the desk.

“Marcus,” he breathed. “He was in federal custody.”

“He was,” I said. “Until Tony used a high-level bypass code to clear his bail and delete his holding files. Tony let him out.”

“No,” Vincenzo said, his face hardening. “Tony didn’t just let him out. He bought him.”

“Why would Marcus trust the man who is actively stealing your empire?” I asked.

“Because Marcus thinks I killed his father,” Vincenzo said, his voice dropping to a low, painful whisper.

He looked down at his blood-stained sleeve.

“My brother’s death was a warehouse fire ten years ago,” he continued. “It was an accident. But Tony spent a decade whispering in the boy’s ear, telling him I set the match.”

“And now Marcus is out,” I said.

“And he’s hunting,” Vincenzo said. “Tony gave him the tools, the location, and the motive. He’s going to use my own nephew to put a bullet in my head.”

“He’ll be at the docks,” I said. “He’ll want to see you face-to-face.”

Vincenzo nodded slowly, his eyes reflecting a deep, old pain.