Chapter 6 - The Night Marco Came Back
Marco had not taken Noah far.
The security team traced the call to an abandoned greenhouse on the far side of the estate.
Vincent knew the building.
It had once belonged to his mother.
Elena stepped toward the door.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“You are not keeping me here.”
“Elena.”
“My son is there.”
Vincent looked at her.
He knew she would go whether he allowed it or not.
“Stay behind me.”
She looked at the wheelchair.
Then at him.
“I mean it.”
Vincent almost smiled.
They reached the greenhouse with four guards.
Vincent stopped them outside.
“If Marco sees weapons, he panics.”
Elena whispered.
“What do we do?”
“I talk.”
The greenhouse door opened.
Marco stood inside.
Noah sat on an old wooden bench several feet away.
He looked frightened but unharmed.
Elena stepped forward.
“Noah.”
Marco raised one hand.
“Stay there.”
Vincent entered.
“You wanted to negotiate.”
Marco looked at him.
“I want safe passage.”
“You’re not getting it.”
“Then why are you here?”
Vincent looked toward Noah.
“Because he matters.”
Marco smiled.
“There. Finally.”
“What?”
“You admit it.”
Vincent stared at him.
Marco continued.
“For years, I couldn’t hurt you because there was nothing left to take.”
Elena’s face hardened.
Vincent replied.
“You misunderstand.”
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
He rolled closer.
“Noah isn’t my weakness.”
Marco laughed.
“He’s sitting ten feet from me.”
“And you’re terrified of a four-year-old.”
Marco’s smile vanished.
Vincent continued.
“He saw you.”
Marco said nothing.
“He exposed you.”
Noah suddenly spoke.
“You’re a liar.”
Marco turned sharply.
“Quiet.”
Noah pointed at him.
“You smile weird.”
Even Elena almost laughed.
Marco’s face twisted.
Vincent saw the opening.
He moved forward.
Marco grabbed Noah’s shoulder.
Elena froze.
“Don’t.”
Vincent stopped.
His voice became quiet.
“Marco.”
“What?”
“You remember what you said in the hospital?”
Marco stared at him.
“You told me I survived because I was too stubborn to die.”
“So?”
“You were right.”
Vincent leaned forward.
“But you forgot something.”
“What?”
“I’m even more stubborn when someone threatens my family.”
The word family hit Elena harder than anything else.
Marco looked toward the greenhouse door.
That moment was enough.
Noah kicked Marco’s shin.
Marco flinched.
Elena rushed forward.
A guard entered from the side.
Marco was restrained in seconds.
Noah ran into Elena’s arms.
She dropped to her knees.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“You scared me.”
“He gave me crackers.”
Elena blinked.
“What?”
Noah looked toward Marco.
“They were stale.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
Then laughed.
Even after everything, he laughed.
Marco stared at him.
Vincent looked back.
“You tried to take everything from me.”
Marco said nothing.
“You took three years.”
Vincent’s voice softened.
“But you don’t get the rest.”
The guards led Marco away.
May you like
This time, he didn’t smile.
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