Chapter 11 - THE MARINA
Alessandro reached the marina twelve minutes after Luca.
Too late to stop him from entering the warehouse.
But not too late to hear the gunshot.
Elena screamed from the car.
Alessandro had insisted she remain behind.
He and Marco entered through opposite doors.
Luca was on the floor.
Alive.
Blood spread across his upper arm.
Enzo stood behind a stack of crates with a gun.
He had escaped custody during a transfer inside the estate with help from one compromised guard.
Alessandro now understood why.
The guard had not been working for Isabella.
He had been working for Enzo for years.
“Drop it.”
Alessandro’s voice echoed through the warehouse.
Enzo laughed.
“You brought the whole family.”
Luca looked at his brother.
“Alessandro.”
“Stay down.”
Enzo moved the weapon toward Luca.
“You always protect him.”
“He’s my brother.”
“And I was what?”
Alessandro did not answer.
That answer had helped create Enzo.
It would not save him now.
“You can still walk out.”
Alessandro said it carefully.
Enzo smiled.
“You know better.”
Police sirens were approaching.
Marco had contacted authorities before entering.
Enzo heard them.
His expression changed.
He looked toward the river.
Then at Luca.
Then at Alessandro.
“You know what the funniest part is?”
“What?”
“Isabella would have betrayed me too.”
Alessandro believed him.
“She had a second account.”
“Where?”
Enzo laughed.
“Still thinking about money?”
“No.”
“I’m thinking about evidence.”
Enzo’s smile disappeared.
Then Luca spoke from the floor.
“Sofia is my daughter.”
It was not a question.
Alessandro’s eyes moved toward him.
Luca had seen enough of the fake message.
Enough of Elena’s reaction.
Enough of the trust papers Marco sent on the drive.
“Yes.”
Luca started crying.
Enzo looked disgusted.
“Touching.”
Then he raised the gun.
Marco moved.
The next seconds exploded into motion.
A shot struck a metal beam.
Another shattered a window.
Enzo ran toward the rear exit.
Marco tackled the compromised guard outside.
Alessandro stayed beside Luca.
He could have chased Enzo.
He did not.
For once, family mattered more than revenge.
Authorities captured Enzo near the river less than twenty minutes later.
Luca was taken to the hospital.
His injury was painful but not life-threatening.
When Elena brought Sofia into the hospital room, Luca stared at the little girl for a long time.
She stared back.
Then Sofia whispered.
“Mommy says you’re my dad.”
Luca started crying harder than Alessandro had ever seen.
“Yes.”
May you like
His voice broke.
“If you’ll let me be.”
