Chapter 12
The warehouse exploded into noise.
Glass shattered.
Rafael dragged me behind a concrete pillar.
“You attract terrible reunions,” he shouted.
I ignored him.
Across the room, Vittorio crawled behind crates, cursing.
Silvio’s men fired from the upper windows.
Police shouted orders.
Sirens screamed outside.
I saw Vittorio reach for a side door.
I ran.
Rafael swore and followed.
Vittorio slipped into the alley.
I caught him at the fence.
He turned the gun on me.
“Stay back.”
“Put it down.”
“You would choose that maid’s child over your own blood?”
I stepped closer.
“She is my blood.”
“She is Matteo’s mistake.”
“She is the only reason his courage survived.”
His hand shook.
For the first time, Vittorio looked old.
Not powerful.
Old.
“You were supposed to lead us.”
“I am.”
“Into prison.”
“Into daylight.”
He laughed bitterly.
Then Anika appeared behind him.
“Drop the weapon.”
Vittorio turned.
Rafael moved.
The gun fired into the ground.
Vittorio fell hard, tackled by two officers.
I stood over him.
He spat blood.
“You think the child will love you when she learns what you are?”
I looked at him.
“I will tell her myself.”
His face twisted.
That was the one weapon he could not use if I refused shame.
Silvio was arrested after a short standoff.
Two officers were wounded.
One of my men died.
Rafael took a bullet through the shoulder and complained the ambulance blanket was ugly.
He would live.
At the hospital, Mia ran toward him.
“Uncle Rafael!”
He looked horrified and touched.
“I am not an uncle.”
Mia frowned.
“You got shot. That’s uncle work.”
Rafael looked at me.
I shrugged.
“Contract accepted.”
He groaned.
Lena stood beside me.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“Bleeding less than expected.”
“I aim to improve.”
She almost smiled.
Then her eyes filled.
“You scared me.”
May you like
That quiet confession meant more than any kiss.
I said, “I scared myself.”
