Chapter 14 - The Last Ferraro Lie
Gemma woke inside a car.
Her hands were tied.
Adrian Vale sat opposite her.
He looked ordinary.
That was the worst part.
“You changed him,” Vale said.
“Leonardo?”
“Matteo.”
Gemma stared at him.
“He used to understand surveillance.”
“You mean fear.”
“I mean control.”
“You spent seven years destroying two men because you hated their father.”
Vale smiled.
“No. I spent thirty years proving that love is just another weakness.”
Gemma thought of Matteo running downstairs.
Leonardo ramming Russo with his wheelchair.
Daniel returning.
The brothers sitting together.
“You proved the opposite.”
Vale's smile vanished.
Meanwhile Leonardo found Gemma's missing apron.
Inside the pocket was a note.
Not from Vale.
From Gemma.
She had written it weeks earlier after Russo's attack.
IF I EVER DISAPPEAR, CHECK WHAT THE CAMERAS DON'T SHOW.
Matteo stared at it.
The blind spot.
They reviewed exterior feeds.
Every camera showed Gemma leaving the kitchen.
None showed her exiting the property.
Therefore she was still underground.
The old tunnels.
Leonardo remembered the original estate plans.
One tunnel ended beneath the chapel.
Matteo wanted Leonardo to remain behind.
Leonardo said no.
This time Matteo didn't argue.
They went together.
Vale had brought Gemma to the chapel basement.
He wanted Matteo to choose.
Gemma or Leonardo.
He positioned them at opposite ends.
A mechanism would flood one chamber when the other opened.
Matteo stared through the glass.
Vale's voice came over the speaker.
“Choose.”
Matteo did nothing.
Vale laughed.
“You always choose control.”
Matteo looked at Leonardo.
Leonardo looked at Gemma.
Then Leonardo smiled.
Matteo understood.
They weren't going to play.
Leonardo removed part of his brace and jammed the flood mechanism.
Gemma kicked a drainage lever.
Matteo broke the central control panel.
Vale's perfect choice collapsed because all three acted.
Federal agents entered through the tunnel.
Vale ran.
Daniel intercepted him.
Vale fired.
Daniel fell.
Gemma screamed.
Matteo tackled Vale.
For one terrible moment, Matteo had his hands around the man's throat.
Vale smiled.
“Do it.”
Matteo understood what Vale wanted.
Proof.
That Ferraros never changed.
Matteo released him.
Police cuffed Vale.
Gemma ran to Daniel.
The bullet had struck his shoulder.
He was alive.
Vale was taken away.
No explosion.
No escape.
No secret deal.
Matteo personally watched federal agents place him inside the armored vehicle.
Then he turned away before it left.
He no longer needed to watch.
At dawn, Gemma sat beside Leonardo.
“Is it over?”
Leonardo looked toward the window.
“I think so.”
Matteo entered carrying tea.
Three cups.
Gemma stared.
“You used the thermometer?”
Matteo looked offended.
“Obviously.”
Leonardo laughed.
Then Joseph entered.
His face was pale.
“There is something you need to see.”
Matteo sighed.
“Please don't say another secret room.”
“No.”
Joseph placed an envelope on Leonardo's lap.
“It came from the federal prosecutor.”
Leonardo opened it.
Read the first page.
Then looked at Matteo.
“What?”
Leonardo handed it over.
Matteo read one sentence.
His face changed.
Carlo DeLuca's trust had finally been released.
But the money wasn't the surprise.
Attached to the trust was one final document.
A letter addressed to the woman who saved both his sons.
May you like
And across the envelope was written a name.
Gemma Riley.
