Chapter 8 - The Night Luca Broke His Own Rule
Gabriel wasn't targeting Luca.
He was targeting Luca's empire.
Three warehouses burned simultaneously.
Accounts were frozen.
A Moretti executive disappeared.
Someone inside the organization was helping Gabriel.
Luca became colder with every hour.
Natalie watched the man she cared about disappear behind the boss everyone feared.
Then Luca ordered Gabriel's suspected allies captured.
Natalie confronted him.
"You're becoming your father."
The words stopped him.
Nobody spoke to Luca that way.
Natalie did.
"If you cross that line, Gabriel wins."
"He tried to kill you."
"And I don't want that turning you into him."
Luca dismissed the room.
Alone, he admitted his greatest fear.
He knew how easy violence was.
Mercy required more strength.
His father had never understood that.
Natalie took his hand.
"Then be stronger."
Luca changed the order.
No executions.
Evidence.
Police.
Exposure.
They would destroy Gabriel's network legally.
Marco traced the financial leak to Moretti Holdings.
The traitor had access to Luca's private accounts.
Only three people did.
Marco.
Luca's attorney.
And Luca's cousin Enzo.
Enzo disappeared that night.
They found his apartment empty.
Except for a photograph of Isabella.
Luca realized Isabella hadn't sought protection.
She had been gathering information.
Natalie felt betrayed for him.
They located Isabella at an old marina.
She confessed.
Gabriel had threatened her younger sister.
She gave him access codes.
But she also knew where Samuel was.
Samuel had turned against Gabriel.
He wanted the vault evidence.
Natalie insisted on meeting him.
This time Luca didn't argue.
Samuel waited in an abandoned boathouse.
Elena came too.
The reunion broke something in everyone.
Elena touched Samuel's face.
"My baby."
Samuel cried without sound.
He had spent his entire life believing she abandoned him.
Gabriel had built his loyalty from that wound.
Now it collapsed.
Samuel agreed to open the vault.
Before they could leave, headlights surrounded the boathouse.
Gabriel had found them.
Luca drew his weapon.
Men approached from every side.
There was only one boat.
"Take Natalie and Elena," Luca told Samuel.
Natalie grabbed his shirt.
"No."
"Go."
"I'm not leaving you."
Luca kissed her once.
Then pushed the keys into Samuel's hand.
Gunfire struck the wall.
Samuel pulled Natalie toward the dock.
She fought him.
"Luca!"
The boat engine started.
Natalie looked back.
Luca stood alone in the doorway.
Then Gabriel's men entered behind him.
One raised his gun.
May you like
A shot exploded.
And Luca disappeared from view.
