Chapter 3 - Natalie Learned Her Father Had Been Murdered by the Same Man Hunting Andrew—But the Truth About Arthur Perry Made Her Walk Away From the Mafia BossNatalie called her mother at six in the morning.
Patricia Brown answered on third ring.
“Natalie?”
“Mom.”
Something in Natalie's voice changed her immediately.
“What happened?”
“Dad.”
Silence.
“What about him?”
Natalie closed eyes.
“Did he work for Arthur Perry?”
Her mother stopped breathing.
That was answer.
“Mom.”
“Where are you?”
“With Andrew Perry.”
“Natalie, leave.”
“Why?”
“Leave now.”
“Mom, tell me.”
“Not on phone.”
They met two hours later.
Andrew offered security.
Natalie accepted one car, but made him wait outside mother's house.
He didn't argue.
Patricia opened door.
She looked older than yesterday.
“Natalie.”
“Tell me.”
They sat kitchen table.
Caleb was away at school.
Patricia twisted hands.
“Your father wasn't accountant like I told you.”
“What was he?”
“He kept financial records for Perry organization.”
Natalie felt sick.
“He was criminal?”
“He was employee.”
“That isn't answer.”
Patricia cried.
“He helped hide money.”
Natalie looked away.
“Why?”
“We needed money.”
“Everyone needs money.”
“I know.”
Patricia wiped face.
“Daniel hated it by end.”
“What happened?”
“He found Victor Perry moving money from Arthur's accounts.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
“Did Arthur know?”
“No.”
“Dad told him?”
“He tried.”
Patricia's voice broke.
“He died before meeting.”
Natalie stared.
“Car accident?”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“I was told if I spoke, they'd kill you and Caleb.”
Natalie stood.
“All these years?”
“I was scared.”
“You let me believe he fell asleep driving.”
“I wanted you away from them.”
Natalie laughed bitterly.
“And now I'm literally involved with them.”
Her mother looked alarmed.
“Involved?”
“Not like that.”
Not yet.
Natalie hated that her mind supplied qualification.
“Andrew is not his father.”
Patricia stared.
“They all say that.”
Natalie flinched.
Because fair.
She returned to hospital.
Andrew waited hallway.
He stood when she approached.
“What did she say?”
Natalie walked past.
He followed.
“Natalie.”
She turned.
“My father laundered money for your family.”
Andrew stopped.
“He tried exposing Victor.”
“Yes.”
“And Victor killed him.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't know.”
“I believe you.”
He relaxed slightly.
She continued:
“But Arthur did.”
Andrew's face changed.
“What?”
“My mother says after Dad died, Arthur paid her.”
“For silence?”
“She doesn't know.”
Natalie looked through glass at recovering crime boss.
“I'm going to ask.”
Arthur was stronger.
Still weak.
Natalie sat.
“Why did you pay my mother?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Daniel saved my life.”
“How?”
“He discovered Victor.”
“And you did nothing?”
“I didn't believe him.”
Natalie's eyes burned.
“He died because you didn't believe him.”
“Yes.”
Arthur did not defend.
“After?”
“I found proof.”
“And Victor?”
“My brother.”
“So?”
Arthur closed eyes.
“I covered it.”
Natalie stood.
Andrew, behind glass, heard through intercom.
Arthur continued:
“I sent Victor away for two years.”
“You sent murderer on vacation?”
Arthur flinched.
“I thought family could handle family.”
Natalie laughed.
Empty.
“My mother spent fifteen years afraid.”
“I know.”
“You paid her.”
“Yes.”
“You bought silence.”
“Yes.”
Natalie turned toward Andrew.
His face devastated.
She walked out.
“Natalie.”
“Don't.”
He stopped.
She pressed elevator.
“I need space.”
“You'll have it.”
“Real space.”
“Yes.”
“No security outside my door.”
Andrew hesitated.
She looked at him.
He nodded.
“Okay.”
“Don't call my employer.”
“You don't have one.”
“Don't buy me one.”
Despite pain, almost funny.
“I won't.”
“Don't fix my mother's mortgage.”
“I wasn't—”
She looked.
He sighed.
“I considered it.”
“Andrew.”
“I won't.”
Elevator opened.
Natalie entered.
He did not follow.
That mattered.
For next two weeks Natalie disappeared from Perry world.
She found new restaurant job.
Less expensive.
More normal.
She resumed accounting course.
Visited mother.
Called Caleb.
Slept.
Badly.
Andrew did not call.
Not once.
Stella texted apology again.
Natalie replied eventually.
Arthur remained hospital.
Victor remained missing.
Then Natalie received envelope.
No return address.
Inside:
Her father's ledger.
Original.
And note.
DANIEL BROWN DIED FOR THIS.
ASK ANDREW WHAT HE WILL DO WITH IT.
Natalie stared.
Ledger implicated dozens.
Politicians.
Police.
Businesses.
Arthur.
Victor.
And Andrew.
Not murder.
Financial crimes.
Protection payments.
Illegal gambling.
Natalie's hands shook.
Someone wanted her to expose Andrew.
Maybe Victor.
Maybe federal agent.
Maybe victim.
She called him.
First time in fourteen days.
He answered before first ring finished.
“Natalie.”
“You sound ridiculous.”
“I've been staring at phone.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
His voice changed.
“Where?”
“My apartment.”
“Do you want me to come?”
She appreciated question.
“Yes.”
He arrived alone.
Natalie placed ledger.
Andrew stared.
“Where did you get this?”
“Mail.”
He opened.
His face hardened.
“This is real.”
“Your name.”
“Yes.”
“You've done these things?”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
Natalie sat.
“How bad?”
“Bad enough.”
“People hurt?”
“Some.”
“Killed?”
Andrew looked at her.
“Not by my order.”
“That wasn't question.”
He understood.
“Yes.”
Natalie closed eyes.
Andrew continued.
“I took over six months ago. I've been shutting down trafficking partnerships my father tolerated.”
“Drugs?”
“Ending.”
“Gambling?”
“Still running.”
“Extortion?”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
Natalie looked at him.
“I can't pretend you're good man because you're polite to waitresses.”
“I know.”
“I can't be person who falls for dangerous man and decides everyone else he hurt doesn't count because he's nice to me.”
Andrew's expression changed.
“Are you falling for me?”
Natalie hated timing.
“That's what you heard?”
“It was part I didn't know.”
She stood.
“You are unbelievable.”
“I'm sorry.”
“No, you're not.”
“I am.”
She walked toward window.
Andrew stayed.
“Do you want truth?”
“Yes.”
“I think about you constantly.”
Natalie closed eyes.
“Andrew.”
“I know this isn't moment.”
“It really isn't.”
“But you asked what I'll do with ledger.”
She turned.
He touched cover.
“I'll give it to federal prosecutor.”
Natalie stared.
“It implicates you.”
“Yes.”
“You could go to prison.”
“Yes.”
“Lose businesses.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Andrew looked at ledger.
“Because Daniel Brown tried to tell my family truth.”
His voice became quieter.
“My father buried it.”
He looked at Natalie.
“I won't.”
She studied him.
“Because of me?”
“No.”
Good answer.
“Because if I do it for you, then I can blame you later.”
Her chest tightened.
“I'll do it because it's right.”
Andrew contacted federal authorities that afternoon.
Not friendly ones.
Independent organized-crime task force.
He negotiated surrender of records.
No immunity.
Cooperation.
Arthur agreed too.
That surprised everyone.
Arthur Perry had spent life protecting family empire.
Stroke changed him.
Daniel Brown's daughter changed something else.
He confessed cover-up.
Stella testified.
Andrew handed over businesses.
Victor became fugitive.
Three days before grand jury, Natalie left restaurant after midnight.
Parking lot empty.
She heard footsteps.
Turned.
Victor Perry stood beside car.
Older than Andrew.
Same eyes.
Different emptiness.
“Daniel's daughter.”
Natalie's blood froze.
“Stay away.”
Victor smiled.
“You look like him.”
She backed.
“You sent ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To see whether Andrew would protect himself.”
“And he didn't.”
Victor's smile vanished.
“That boy has always been weak.”
Natalie reached phone.
Victor grabbed wrist.
“Don't.”
She kicked shin.
Ran.
He caught coat.
Natalie screamed.
Then headlights flooded lot.
Andrew's SUV.
Victor dragged Natalie behind car.
Gun appeared.
Andrew stepped out.
Alone.
Natalie shouted:
“Don't!”
Victor pressed weapon against her side.
Andrew stopped.
“Let her go.”
Victor laughed.
“Look at you.”
Andrew's hands remained visible.
“You ruined family for waitress.”
“No.”
“For what then?”
Andrew looked at Natalie.
“For truth.”
Victor spat.
“Your father would be ashamed.”
“My father is testifying against you.”
Victor froze.
Andrew continued.
“You lost.”
“No.”
“You killed Daniel.”
“No proof.”
“Arthur recorded confession yesterday.”
Victor's face changed.
Bluff.
Natalie recognized.
Victor didn't.
His grip loosened.
She drove heel onto foot and elbowed ribs.
Gun shifted.
Andrew moved.
Security vehicles appeared from both entrances.
Not alone after all.
Victor raised weapon.
Shot fired.
Natalie screamed.
Andrew fell.
Everything stopped.
Then agents swarmed.
Victor arrested.
Natalie ran to Andrew.
Blood spread across shoulder.
“Andrew.”
He looked at her.
“I'm okay.”
“You're bleeding.”
“Observation.”
“Shut up.”
He smiled weakly.
“You're worried.”
“I will kill you myself.”
“That feels counterproductive.”
She pressed hands to wound.
Ambulance arrived.
As paramedics loaded him, Andrew caught hand.
Then stopped.
“Can I?”
Even bleeding.
Still asking.
Natalie took his hand herself.
“Yes.”
Hospital surgery lasted two hours.
Bullet missed artery.
He would recover.
Natalie sat waiting room beside Stella.
Stella looked at her.
“You love him.”
Natalie stared ahead.
“That would be inconvenient.”
Stella laughed softly.
“Perry family specializes in inconvenience.”
Natalie looked at her.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell him.”
Natalie thought of ledger.
Victims.
Crime.
Her father.
Andrew's choices.
“I'll tell him when loving him doesn't require pretending those things didn't happen.”
Stella nodded.
“That sounds fair.”
Andrew woke.
Natalie entered.
He smiled.
“You stayed.”
“For now.”
His smile faded slightly.
She sat.
“I care about you.”
“I know.”
“Don't be smug.”
“Sorry.”
“But this doesn't erase anything.”
“I know.”
“If you're convicted—”
“I accept it.”
“If you lose empire—”
“I accept it.”
“If I decide this is too much—”
Pain crossed face.
But he answered.
“I accept that too.”
Natalie looked at him.
For first time, she leaned forward.
Kissed forehead.
Not lips.
Not yet.
Andrew closed eyes.
It was enough.
May you like
Because the most powerful thing he could offer Natalie was no longer protection.
It was the freedom to decide whether he deserved a place in her life.
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