Chapter 10 - The Final Trap
Salvatore wanted Luca alone.
No police.
No Marco.
No me.
Naturally, none of us listened.
The meeting place was an abandoned Moretti textile factory.
Elena sat tied to a chair beneath a single hanging light.
Salvatore stood behind her.
Luca entered through the front.
I entered through the back.
Marco nearly killed me when he realized I'd followed.
"You were told to stay with Noah."
"I left him with Catherine and twenty federal agents."
"You're insane."
"Apparently it's genetic."
He almost smiled.
Then we heard Salvatore.
"You destroyed your father's empire."
Luca stood twenty feet away.
"No. You did."
"I made it powerful."
"You made it rotten."
Salvatore laughed.
"And now what are you? A family man?"
His gun touched Elena's temple.
"Drop your weapon."
Luca did.
"Kick it away."
He obeyed.
Salvatore smiled.
"Love makes men weak."
Elena looked at Luca.
"No."
Her voice was calm.
"It makes men choose."
Salvatore frowned.
Elena slammed her heel backward onto his foot.
Luca moved.
Gunfire.
Marco fired from the catwalk.
Salvatore's weapon flew away.
I ran toward Elena.
Then Salvatore saw me.
His face twisted.
"Mara!"
He lunged.
I backed away.
He grabbed me around the throat.
Luca froze.
Salvatore pressed a knife under my chin.
"Another step and your sister dies."
My heart pounded.
Luca raised his hands.
"Let her go."
"You chose her over me."
"I chose my family."
"I am your family!"
"No."
Luca looked directly at him.
"You're blood."
The distinction landed.
Salvatore's grip tightened.
Then a tiny sound came from behind him.
A baby's cry.
Everyone froze.
My heart stopped.
"No."
Catherine stepped into the factory.
Holding Noah.
"What are you doing?" I screamed.
"Trust me."
Salvatore stared at the baby.
Catherine moved closer.
"You wanted Antonio's bloodline?"
She looked at Noah.
"Here it is."
Luca went pale.
"Catherine, leave."
She ignored him.
Salvatore's attention shifted.
That was all I needed.
I drove my elbow backward.
His grip loosened.
Luca lunged.
The knife fell.
Marco kicked it away.
Salvatore and Luca crashed into machinery.
They fought like men who had hated each other for decades.
Finally Salvatore reached for a hidden pistol.
Elena screamed.
"Luca!"
A shot exploded.
Salvatore froze.
He looked down.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Marco stood behind him.
Gun raised.
Salvatore collapsed.
Silence.
Luca stared at his uncle.
Salvatore tried to breathe.
"You think... this ends..."
Luca crouched.
"It ends for you."
Salvatore smiled weakly.
"No."
His eyes moved toward me.
"Ask Catherine..."
My mother stiffened.
"...who really killed Antonio."
Then Salvatore died.
Nobody spoke.
I turned toward my mother.
"Mom?"
Her face had gone white.
Luca slowly stood.
"What did he mean?"
Catherine held Noah tighter.
"Catherine."
Luca's voice changed.
"What did he mean?"
My mother closed her eyes.
May you like
And whispered:
"I killed your father."
