Chapter 5 - Tommy’s Last Bargain
Chloe was already moving toward the door.
Luca blocked her path.
“Move.”
“No.”
“He has Mia.”
“We don’t know that.”
Her phone rang.
Tommy.
Chloe answered.
“Mia?”
Tommy laughed.
“She’s fine.”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“Let me hear her.”
A frightened voice came through.
“Chloe?”
“Mia.”
“I’m okay.”
Tommy took the phone back.
“The storage key.”
Chloe’s expression changed.
Luca noticed.
Tommy continued.
“You bring it to the old construction office. Alone.”
“No.”
“Then your sister stays with me.”
Luca quietly motioned for Marco to start tracing the call.
Tommy said, “And Chloe?”
“What?”
“Don’t bring Moretti.”
The call ended.
Chloe looked at Luca.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She’s my sister.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to stop me.”
“I know that too.”
“Then move.”
Luca stepped aside.
Chloe blinked.
“You’re letting me go?”
“You’re not asking permission.”
The answer stopped her.
Luca picked up his coat.
“But I’m driving.”
“He said alone.”
“He also thinks you still obey him.”
“I can’t risk Mia.”
“You won’t.”
Chloe stared at him.
“How can you promise that?”
“I can’t.”
The room became quiet.
Luca continued.
“But I can promise you won’t face him without options.”
Forty minutes later, Chloe entered Tommy’s abandoned construction office alone.
Luca remained outside.
No dramatic entrance.
No army of men.
Only Chloe.
Tommy stood near a desk.
Mia sat across the room.
“Mia.”
“I’m okay,” her sister said quickly.
Tommy held out his hand.
“The key.”
Chloe removed it from her pocket.
“Let her leave first.”
Tommy smiled.
“You’re negotiating now?”
“Yes.”
“You used to be smarter.”
“No. I used to be scared.”
His smile faded.
“You think Moretti changed you?”
“No.”
Chloe stepped closer.
“Leaving you did.”
Tommy’s jaw tightened.
“The key.”
“Mia walks.”
He stared at her.
Then nodded toward the door.
“Go.”
Mia ran to Chloe.
Chloe hugged her tightly.
“Outside. Black Audi.”
“Chloe—”
“Go.”
Mia left.
Tommy extended his hand again.
Chloe placed the key in his palm.
“Good girl.”
She looked him directly in the eyes.
“Don’t call me that.”
He smiled.
“You really think this is over?”
“No.”
Chloe lifted her empty hand.
“That’s why I gave you the wrong key.”
Tommy froze.
“What?”
“You never learned anything about me.”
His face darkened.
“Where are the files?”
“Already delivered.”
Tommy moved toward her.
The office door opened.
Luca entered.
He didn’t rush.
He didn’t raise his voice.
His charcoal coat was wet from the rain, black ink visible along his neck.
Tommy stopped.
“You said alone.”
Chloe answered.
“I came alone.”
Luca closed the door behind himself.
“I came separately.”
Despite everything, Chloe almost laughed.
Tommy looked between them.
“You think you can take everything from me?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“You owe me.”
“No.”
“You lived in my house.”
“I paid rent.”
“I protected you.”
“You controlled me.”
Tommy looked at Luca.
“You really believe she’ll stay with you?”
Luca’s expression changed.
“She doesn’t have to.”
Tommy laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Luca glanced at Chloe.
“She can walk away from me tonight.”
Chloe stared at him.
Luca continued.
“Tomorrow. Next month. Ten years from now.”
Then he looked back at Tommy.
“That’s the difference between us.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Tommy’s face drained.
“What did you do?”
Chloe answered.
“I stopped running.”
The front windows filled with red and blue reflections.
Tommy looked toward the rear exit.
Luca stepped aside rather than blocking him.
“Your choice.”
Tommy stared at the door.
Then at Chloe.
For the first time, she saw something in his face she had never seen before.
Fear.
May you like
Not hers.
His.
