Chapter 4 - The Serpent and the Crown
Patrick Vale wasn't Luciano's greatest enemy.
He was his cousin.
That made everything worse.
“He wants your job?” Sofia asked.
Luciano was sitting at the kitchen island the next morning while Elena made coffee.
“My position.”
“Same thing.”
“Basically.”
Elena put down the coffee pot.
“And this detective?”
“Vale pays him.”
Sofia frowned.
“Then tell the police.”
Luciano and Daniel exchanged glances.
“What?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“Nothing.”
Sofia crossed her arms.
“You adults make everything complicated.”
Luciano nodded.
“Unfortunately, you're correct.”
A housekeeper entered carrying a pharmacy bag.
“Elena Ramirez?”
Elena looked suspiciously at Luciano.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
She opened the bag.
Every prescription had been filled.
Three months.
Elena looked furious.
“Luciano.”
He raised both hands.
“I didn't pay.”
“Then who did?”
“The Whitaker Family Medical Foundation.”
Elena stared.
Daniel suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
“You own the foundation.”
Luciano considered this.
“Technically.”
“Take them back.”
Sofia whispered, “Grandma.”
“No.”
Luciano stood.
“Elena, your granddaughter searched garbage for scrap because you couldn't afford medicine.”
Elena's eyes flashed.
“And you think that gives you the right to buy our dignity?”
“No.”
His answer stopped her.
“I think it gives me the obligation to fix one problem I can actually fix.”
Elena stared at him.
Luciano continued.
“She could've stolen my watch.”
He removed it and placed it on the counter.
“She didn't.”
The serpent and crown caught the morning light.
“She could've left me there.”
He looked at Sofia.
“She didn't.”
His voice softened.
“I owe her my life. Let me buy the medicine.”
Elena was silent.
Finally she took the pharmacy bag.
“Medicine.”
Luciano nodded.
“Medicine.”
“No cars.”
“Fine.”
“No mansion.”
“Fine.”
“No ridiculous gifts.”
Luciano glanced at Sofia.
“What qualifies as ridiculous?”
“Anything you would consider normal.”
Daniel laughed.
Luciano glared at him.
Then an alarm sounded.
Daniel's smile vanished.
“What is that?” Elena asked.
Luciano was already moving.
“Perimeter breach.”
Daniel checked his phone.
“East service gate.”
“How many?”
“Unknown.”
Luciano turned toward Sofia.
“Safe room.”
“No.”
“Sofia.”
“You're injured.”
“This isn't a debate.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“And somehow we're still debating.”
Elena grabbed Sofia's hand.
“We're going.”
They moved toward the hallway.
Then Daniel received another message.
His face went pale.
“Boss.”
Luciano stopped.
“The breach is fake.”
“What?”
Daniel turned the screen.
“Security triggered it manually.”
Luciano understood.
“From inside.”
The lights went out.
Sofia heard Elena inhale sharply.
Then a man's voice came from the darkness.
“Hello, cousin.”
Luciano went completely still.
Patrick Vale stepped from the hallway.
And in his hand was Luciano's own gold watch.
Sofia looked toward the kitchen counter.
Empty.
Vale smiled.
“Still leaving your valuables where children can reach them?”
Luciano's voice was ice.
“Patrick.”
Vale glanced at Sofia.
“So that's her.”
Sofia moved closer to Elena.
“The little scavenger who ruined everything.”
Luciano stepped forward.
“Don't look at her.”
Vale smiled.
“Why? She special?”
“Yes.”
The answer came instantly.
Even Vale seemed surprised.
Luciano continued.
“She saved my life.”
Vale lifted the watch.
May you like
“And now she's going to help end it.”
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