Chapter 9 - Thirty-Six Black Roses
Vincent tackled Maggie behind the counter.
Glass shattered.
The shot struck a vase.
Marco drew his weapon.
Catherine screamed.
Vincent covered Maggie with his body.
“Stay down.”
His men flooded the street.
The shooter escaped.
That night Vincent moved Maggie to his estate.
She hated every second.
“I feel imprisoned.”
“You were shot at.”
“A vase was shot at.”
“The bullet was traveling toward your heart.”
“Technicality.”
Vincent stared at her.
Maggie softened.
“I’m scared too.”
That stopped him.
She touched his hand.
“But fear doesn't get to make every decision.”
He sat beside her.
For the first time, Vincent told Maggie the complete truth about his businesses.
Some were legitimate.
Some had not always been.
After his father died, Vincent had spent years separating the Moretti name from the criminal structure he inherited.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Not cleanly enough.
Elias had resisted every step.
“You were trying to leave,” Maggie said.
“I was trying to make something Anthony wouldn't hate.”
“And you thought he was dead.”
“Yes.”
Maggie understood why Elias needed the ledger.
It could destroy the old organization.
Or restore it.
They needed Anthony first.
Luca contacted them secretly.
He had located Pier 19.
Trap.
Obviously.
Vincent went anyway.
Maggie did not.
That was the agreement.
She remained with Elena Moretti.
At midnight, thirty-six black roses arrived.
Elena stared at them.
“What?”
Her hands shook.
“My husband used black roses as a signal.”
“For what?”
“Execution.”
Maggie found a card.
THE WRONG MORETTI WENT TO THE PIER.
She looked at Elena.
Then understood.
Vincent wasn't the target.
She was.
The lights died.
Security alarms screamed.
Elena grabbed Maggie.
“Greenhouse.”
They ran.
Footsteps entered the house.
Maggie reached the greenhouse.
Someone seized Elena behind them.
Maggie turned.
Elias held a gun.
“Come with me.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You really are perfect for Vincent.”
“Everybody keeps telling me that.”
Elias pressed the weapon against Elena.
Maggie surrendered.
They drove forty minutes.
An abandoned church waited outside the city.
Inside, Maggie found Anthony Moretti.
Alive.
Older than Vincent.
Scar across his face.
But unmistakably his brother.
Anthony stared at her ring.
“So you're Maggie.”
“You caused me a tremendous amount of paperwork.”
He laughed.
Then Elias struck him.
“Enough.”
Maggie looked at the ropes around Anthony’s wrists.
“Where’s the ledger?”
Anthony smiled through blood.
“Somewhere you’ll never find it.”
Elias raised the gun.
Maggie interrupted.
“I know where it is.”
Anthony looked at her sharply.
She didn't.
But Elias didn't know that.
“Tell me.”
“Release him.”
Elias smiled.
“No.”
A gunshot sounded outside.
Then another.
Elias turned toward the door.
Anthony whispered, “That isn't Vincent.”
Maggie stared.
“Then who?”
The church doors slowly opened.
May you like
Luca DeSantis walked inside.
And his gun was pointed directly at Anthony.
