Chapter 6 - The Last Betrayal
Vittorio Moretti was waiting inside an abandoned Moretti warehouse.
Twelve senior men stood around him.
Luca entered with Marco.
Vittorio smiled.
“My nephew.”
Luca placed Ryan’s phone on the table.
The smile disappeared.
“You sold my movements.”
Vittorio shrugged.
“You were becoming weak.”
“Because I refused to start a war?”
“Because you forgot fear keeps men loyal.”
Luca looked around the room.
“No. Fear keeps men quiet.”
Vittorio laughed.
“And what does singing through apartment walls keep them?”
Luca’s eyes hardened.
Vittorio knew about Elena.
That was his mistake.
“If you ever say her name—”
“There he is.”
Vittorio smiled.
“The Luca I remember.”
Luca stepped closer.
“You attacked a civilian because you couldn’t reach me.”
“I did what was necessary.”
“No.”
Luca looked at the other men.
“You endangered families. You sold routes. You gave information to rivals and blamed our own people.”
Marco distributed copies of the evidence.
Faces around the room changed.
Vittorio looked suddenly uncertain.
“You believe paperwork?”
One of the senior men spoke.
“I believe my son nearly died because somebody leaked his location.”
Another added, “So do I.”
Vittorio looked at Luca.
“You planned this.”
“No.”
Luca shook his head.
“You exposed yourself.”
Within minutes, Vittorio had no allies left.
Luca walked away.
Marco followed.
Outside, Marco asked, “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“The old Luca wouldn’t have stopped there.”
Luca opened the car door.
“The old Luca couldn’t sleep.”
Marco smiled.
“You’re going back to her.”
“Yes.”
When Luca returned to the townhouse, it was almost eleven.
He opened the door.
Darkness.
“Elena?”
Nothing.
His pulse quickened.
Then—
A voice came softly from the kitchen.
Singing.
Luca stopped.
Elena stood beside the counter wearing borrowed pajamas, making tea.
She finished the line.
“You’re late.”
Luca checked his watch.
11:02.
“You started without me.”
Her eyebrow lifted.
“I wasn’t aware you had reserved seating.”
He walked closer.
“It’s been a difficult evening.”
“Did you handle it?”
“Yes.”
“Is it over?”
“Yes.”
She studied him.
“And Ryan?”
“Police have enough evidence regarding the break-in and what happened to you.”
“Good.”
Luca nodded.
Elena handed him tea.
“What happens tomorrow?”
“You decide.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I mean it.”
“And if I decide I never want to see you again?”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“I’ll respect it.”
“And if I decide I do?”
For once, Luca Moretti looked genuinely uncertain.
Elena smiled.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“The terrifying Luca Moretti doesn’t have an answer.”
“I have several.”
“Let’s hear one.”
He stepped closer.
“I’d ask you to dinner.”
“That’s surprisingly normal.”
“I can make it threatening if you prefer.”
She laughed.
“No.”
Then Elena reached for his hand.
May you like
“Normal sounds nice.”
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