Chapter 14 - Three Words Before the Gunshot
Massimo stared at the wall.
“No.”
Alessandra touched his arm.
“Massimo.”
“My father is dead.”
“So was Salvatore.”
He looked at her.
She hated saying it.
But this family had made death unreliable.
Evelyn survived the shot.
At the hospital, she confessed.
She had never met Marcello.
The message was intended to destabilize Massimo.
The real person behind the remaining network was Dr. Vincent Hale.
Her father.
The same man who certified Salvatore’s fake death.
The same man who had altered medical records.
The same man who had access to Leo’s birth documents.
Vincent had taken the silver case.
Vanessa tracked him to a private airfield.
Massimo wanted to go.
Alessandra stopped him.
“You’re doing it again.”
“What?”
“Running toward the gun.”
“It’s what I do.”
“It’s what you did.”
He stared at her.
She took his hand.
“You said you wanted something else.”
“I do.”
“Then act like you plan to survive long enough to have it.”
That silenced him.
They let federal agents lead.
Massimo accompanied them as a witness.
Alessandra stayed with Leo.
Two hours later, Vanessa called.
Vincent Hale had been arrested.
The silver case recovered.
No gunfight.
No heroic sacrifice.
Just handcuffs.
Massimo returned shortly before dawn.
Alessandra stood in the kitchen.
He walked toward her.
“It’s over.”
“You’re sure?”
“Vanessa is sure.”
“That woman once put a bounty on me.”
“Fair point.”
He reached into his pocket.
Alessandra narrowed her eyes.
“If that is a ring after everything I just said about survival, I’m throwing it at you.”
Massimo stopped.
Slowly, he removed his hand.
It was a ring.
She stared.
He looked almost offended.
“I had a speech.”
“Of course you did.”
“It was good.”
“Was there intimidation?”
“Minimal.”
She laughed.
Massimo stepped closer.
“I don’t want to own you.”
Her smile faded.
“I don’t want to save you.”
He took her hand.
“I learned you don’t need either.”
Her eyes filled.
“I want breakfast with Leo. I want you stealing my bourbon even though you hate bourbon.”
“I do hate bourbon.”
“I know.”
“I was traumatized.”
“You drank half the glass.”
“Continue.”
“I want Matteo showing up uninvited. I want dinosaur pancakes. I want arguments about investments. I want you correcting my grammar when you’re angry.”
“I do not do that.”
“You absolutely do.”
She was crying now.
Massimo looked at her.
“And I want to be the man Leo knows will come back when he says he will.”
Alessandra covered her mouth.
Massimo lowered himself onto one knee.
For perhaps the first time since she met him, he looked nervous.
“Alessandra Ferraro, will you marry me?”
She let him wait.
Five seconds.
Ten.
His confidence cracked.
“Alessandra?”
She smiled.
“I was enjoying this.”
“That is cruel.”
“Yes.”
She knelt in front of him.
“Yes.”
Massimo kissed her.
Then a small voice came from the doorway.
“Did she say yes?”
They turned.
Leo stood in dinosaur pajamas.
Behind him was Matteo, leaning on a cane.
“You were supposed to keep him upstairs,” Massimo said.
Matteo shrugged.
“He outranks me.”
Leo ran forward.
“Are we family now?”
Alessandra pulled him close.
“We already were.”
Massimo’s eyes closed briefly.
That answer struck him deeply.
Then Leo looked at the ring.
“Do I get one?”
“No,” three adults said together.
Leo frowned.
The phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Massimo looked at the screen.
Vanessa.
He answered.
His expression slowly changed.
“What do you mean, missing?”
Alessandra stood.
Massimo listened.
Then looked directly at Matteo.
“The original birth record is gone.”
Matteo went pale.
A second message arrived.
One photograph.
One sentence.
Massimo turned the phone toward them.
The photograph showed Marcello Costa’s grave.
May you like
The coffin had been dug up.
And it was empty.
