Chapter 7 - THE SECOND TIME I SAVED LUCA
We escaped the bank through an underground service tunnel.
But when we reached the mansion, Luca was gone.
I knew before anyone spoke.
Anthony's face told me.
Marco stood in the foyer.
Bleeding.
“Celeste took him.”
Anthony became terrifyingly calm.
“When?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
“How?”
“She had help.”
Anthony looked at the guards.
Nobody met his eyes.
Then an older guard stepped forward.
“I did it.”
Anthony raised his gun.
“Wait!” I shouted.
The guard was crying.
“They have my daughter.”
Anthony's finger remained on the trigger.
I stepped between them.
“Anthony.”
“Move.”
“No.”
“He gave them Luca.”
“And killing him brings Luca back?”
His eyes burned into mine.
Then slowly, Anthony lowered the gun.
The phone rang.
Salvatore's voice filled the foyer.
“Hello, son.”
Anthony didn't speak.
“I have my grandson.”
“If you touch him—”
“You'll do what? Kill your dead father?”
Salvatore laughed.
“Bring the ledger. Bring the key. And bring Evelyn.”
Anthony looked at me.
“No.”
Salvatore continued.
“Midnight. Pier fourteen.”
The call ended.
Anthony said, “You're not going.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“Luca is there because of my mother's key.”
“Luca is there because of my family.”
“He needs us.”
Anthony grabbed my shoulders.
“I will not lose you too.”
The words silenced me.
“I buried Isabella,” he whispered. “I nearly watched my son die. I cannot put you on that pier.”
I touched his face.
“You don't get to tell me I'm never leaving and then leave me behind when your son needs me.”
His eyes closed.
At midnight, we went together.
Salvatore waited inside an abandoned warehouse.
Luca was tied to a chair.
Celeste held a gun.
Vincent stood beside his father.
I finally understood.
Vincent hadn't run from Anthony.
He had run to Salvatore.
“Give me the ledger,” Salvatore said.
Anthony held it up.
“Give me my son.”
Salvatore smiled.
“You were always sentimental.”
“And you were always a coward.”
Salvatore's smile disappeared.
Anthony threw the ledger.
Everything happened at once.
Marco's men fired from the roof.
Vincent grabbed Luca.
Celeste shot at Anthony.
I ran.
Not toward safety.
Toward Luca.
Again.
Vincent dragged him toward the water.
I hit Vincent with a metal pipe.
He fell.
Luca screamed.
Celeste aimed at me.
Anthony shot first.
Celeste collapsed.
Then Salvatore fired.
Anthony jerked backward.
Blood spread across his chest.
“Daddy!”
Luca screamed.
I caught him.
Salvatore escaped into the darkness.
May you like
Anthony fell to his knees.
And for the first time since the pool, I was the one begging someone to breathe.
