Chapter 13 - Vincent's Final War
The apartment was supposed to be empty.
Vincent wanted the bomb squad first.
Chloe agreed.
Hours later, investigators cleared the rooms.
No explosives.
No intruder.
Only a package on Chloe’s bed.
Inside was a recording.
Marco’s confession.
Not remorse.
Insurance.
He named Salvatore.
Crane.
Dozens of others.
Then he revealed where he was going.
Moretti House.
Vincent understood immediately.
Marco wanted Carlo’s final archive.
The archive contained enough information to rebuild the criminal network.
Or destroy it permanently.
Vincent went with federal agents.
Chloe remained outside with Maria, newly discharged under medical supervision.
This time, Chloe accepted the boundary because it was her choice.
Inside, Vincent found Marco in Carlo’s old office.
The archive was open.
“You could take it,” Marco said.
Vincent stared at the files.
“You could rebuild everything your father had.”
“No.”
“You think you’re different?”
“I’m trying to be.”
Marco laughed.
“That woman made you weak.”
Vincent thought of Chloe barefoot in his car.
Terrified.
Still brave enough to say no.
“No,” he said. “She reminded me strength doesn’t require owning people.”
Marco reached for his gun.
Agents shouted.
Vincent stepped back.
He didn’t fire.
Marco was arrested alive.
That mattered.
There would be testimony.
Trials.
Evidence.
No mythology.
No martyr.
Just consequences.
Outside, Chloe saw Vincent emerge.
She ran toward him.
Stopped.
Then walked the final few steps.
He smiled.
“Why did you stop?”
“I’m learning not to run toward dangerous men.”
“Good policy.”
She laughed.
Then kissed him.
Briefly.
Softly.
Entirely her choice.
Vincent looked stunned.
“That was—”
“Don’t ruin it.”
He nodded.
“Excellent advice.”
Marco was taken away.
For the first time, the danger seemed truly smaller.
But one final problem remained.
The Moretti organization.
Vincent controlled it.
The legitimate companies employed thousands.
The criminal operations still existed beneath them.
He had a choice.
Preserve power.
Or dismantle what his father built.
That night, Vincent opened Carlo’s archive.
Chloe sat across from him.
He found a sealed document.
His father’s final instructions.
Vincent read them.
Then silently handed the page to Chloe.
Carlo had named a successor if Vincent ever abandoned the family business.
Chloe read the name.
Her blood ran cold.
The successor was not Marco.
May you like
Not Salvatore.
It was Chloe Bennett.
