Chapter 5 - The Costa Confession
Victor chose an abandoned restaurant in Brooklyn.
Clara entered alone.
Dominic hated every second.
Enzo monitored her microphone from a van nearby.
Victor poured two glasses of wine.
“You look like Elena.”
“So everyone keeps telling me.”
“She was weak.”
Clara sat.
“My mother was strong enough to leave you.”
Victor’s smile tightened.
“You came for answers.”
“Yes.”
“Ask.”
“Did my grandfather order the deaths of Rossi children?”
Victor paused.
“That was war.”
Clara’s stomach turned.
“So yes.”
“He made necessary decisions.”
“And Dominic’s father killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why continue?”
Victor leaned back.
“Because Rossi needed to lose something too.”
“Isabella?”
“Dominic.”
Clara frowned.
Victor smiled.
“His mother was only the beginning.”
In the van, Dominic’s expression hardened.
Victor continued.
“The great Dominic Rossi watches everything. Controls everything. So I wanted him to watch someone die because of him.”
“Me?”
Victor laughed.
“You were supposed to survive.”
Clara felt cold.
“The bullets—”
“Costa was told where to aim.”
“You trusted a gunman in a crowded ballroom?”
Victor shrugged.
“Risk was necessary.”
Clara stared at him.
“My mother was right about you.”
Victor’s face changed.
“What did she say?”
“That revenge mattered more to you than family.”
He stood.
“Your mother betrayed us.”
“No. She escaped you.”
Victor reached across the table.
“Give me the recording.”
Clara stepped backward.
Victor noticed the wire beneath her blouse.
His expression transformed.
“You stupid girl.”
Outside, Dominic heard it.
“Move.”
Enzo grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
“I’m done waiting.”
Inside, Victor reached for Clara.
She backed away.
“You used me.”
“I gave you a chance to reclaim your name.”
“My name is Evans.”
“You are a Costa!”
“No.”
The doors opened.
Dominic entered with Enzo and two detectives who had been listening from the adjoining building.
Victor froze.
Clara looked directly at her uncle.
“My mother spent her life making sure I would never become you.”
Victor’s shoulders dropped.
For the first time, he looked old.
Dominic approached Clara.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
She nodded.
Then whispered, “You were supposed to wait.”
“I’m bad at instructions.”
“I noticed.”
Behind them, detectives placed Victor under arrest.
Victor looked at Dominic.
“You think this ends anything?”
Dominic answered calmly.
“It ends enough.”
Victor turned toward Clara.
“You chose Rossi over your own blood.”
Clara shook her head.
“No.”
She reached for Dominic’s hand.
“I chose myself.”
---
Outside, rain covered the street.
Dominic opened the car door.
Clara didn’t get inside.
“What?”
She looked at him.
“Did you mean what you said in the ICU?”
“Which part?”
“That I decide what happens next.”
“Yes.”
“And that ring wasn’t real.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Dominic frowned.
“Why good?”
“Because if I ever marry someone, I’d like to be awake.”
He stared.
Clara smiled.
Then got into the car.
Enzo appeared behind Dominic.
“That sounded promising.”
“Get in the car.”
“I’m just saying—”
“Enzo.”
May you like
“Getting in the car.”
---
