Chapter 19 - THE LAST NIGHT OF THE RUSSO FAMILY|
Luca refused to go to the warehouse without involving the authorities.
He contacted an investigator who had been quietly building a case against Victor for years.
The plan was simple.
Luca would deliver a copy of the evidence.
The investigators would monitor the exchange.
A second team would locate Daniel.
But nothing about the night was simple.
Victor had been preparing for this confrontation for decades.
The old warehouse was surrounded by armed men when Luca arrived.
I remained inside an armored vehicle with two officers.
Luca entered carrying the notebook.
Victor stood near a metal table.
Anthony was beside him.
And Daniel was tied to a chair.
"You're late," Victor said.
Luca placed the notebook down.
"Let my brother-in-law go."
Victor smiled.
"So it is true."
He looked at me through the warehouse window.
"You've become attached."
Luca said nothing.
Victor opened the notebook.
He examined several pages.
Then he laughed.
"Your mother always believed paper could destroy men like me."
"It did."
"Not yet."
Victor removed a lighter.
He held it above the notebook.
Luca stepped forward.
"Don't."
Victor looked at him.
"Come back to me. Take your place. I'll give you everything."
"I don't want it."
"You think this woman will stay when she discovers what you've done?"
Luca remained silent.
Victor continued.
"You've built your entire life on violence. You cannot simply walk away."
"Watch me."
Victor dropped the lighter.
The notebook caught fire.
But Luca had already delivered copies of the evidence to the investigators.
Outside, the operation began.
Officers surrounded the warehouse.
Anthony tried to escape through the loading area.
Daniel managed to free one hand and knocked the chair sideways.
I rushed from the vehicle when the officers secured the entrance.
"Daniel!"
He looked up.
"Emma!"
I reached him and cut the remaining restraints.
Then I heard a gunshot.
Luca was standing near the center of the warehouse.
Victor had taken a weapon from one of his men.
He was aiming at Luca.
I screamed.
"Luca!"
He turned.
The gun fired.
Luca staggered backward.
The officers returned fire.
Victor fell.
Anthony was arrested near the loading bay.
I ran toward Luca.
Blood was spreading across his shirt.
"Stay with me."
He looked at me.
"Emma..."
"Don't talk."
I pressed my hands against the wound.
The same way I had done in Mercy General.
The first night we met.
The first night he had refused to tell me his name.
He gave a weak smile.
"You always find me bleeding."
Tears ran down my face.
"Then stop giving me reasons."
Paramedics arrived.
They rushed him to the ambulance.
I climbed inside.
At the hospital, surgeons operated for four hours.
Daniel sat beside me in the waiting room.
Catherine—no, Victoria—arrived with her father’s former driver, carrying the documents that would help prosecutors.
The operation finally ended.
The surgeon stepped outside.
"He survived."
I closed my eyes.
But the surgeon continued.
"There's something else. Mr. Russo asked us to give you this."
He handed me a small envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Emma, if I don't wake up, I want you to know that meeting you was the first good thing I did without expecting something in return.
I pressed the letter to my chest.
Then the surgeon added:
"He's awake. But there's a problem. The police are waiting to question him, and his testimony could send him to prison for a very long time."
I looked through the glass.
Luca was awake.
May you like
He was waiting for me.
And I knew the final choice would be his.
