Chapter 6 - THE TRUTH IN THE LEDGER
The massive warehouse doors screeched as they were forced upward, the metal grinding against the tracks.
The blinding halogen headlights of three black SUVs flooded the dark space, casting long, terrifying shadows against the brick walls.
I clutched Leo tightly to my chest. He buried his face in my shoulder, trembling.
“Close your eyes, sweetie,” I whispered into his hair, backing away toward the rear exit.
Vanessa stepped into the light, her red silk dress soaked from the rain, her makeup smeared into dark streaks. She looked completely unhinged.
She racked the pump of the shotgun with a deafening clack.
Five armed men filed in behind her.
“Did you really think you could humiliate me and just walk away, Luca?” Vanessa screamed over the sound of the rain.
Luca stood his ground, keeping himself positioned directly between Vanessa and us. His pistol was raised, aimed dead center at her chest.
“You’re out of your mind, Vanessa,” Luca said, his voice eerily calm. “You don't want this.”
“I want everything!” she shrieked. “My uncle promised me the Moretti empire! You ruined it over an old woman and a waitress!”
My mother, Clara, stepped forward from the shadows.
“Your uncle promised you nothing, Vanessa,” my mother said loudly.
Vanessa jumped, swinging the shotgun toward Clara. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to recognize the older woman.
“Who the hell are you?” Vanessa demanded.
“I’m the woman who did your family’s taxes for twenty years,” my mother replied, completely unfazed by the weapon pointed at her. “I’m Clara Collins. And Carlo Bellini has been playing you for a fool your entire life.”
Vanessa laughed harshly. “My uncle raised me! He took me in when my father died in that boating accident!”
“It wasn't an accident,” Luca said.
The realization hit Luca’s face as he glanced down at the manila envelope on the floor.
He kicked the envelope toward Vanessa. It slid across the dusty concrete and stopped at her feet.
“Pick it up,” Luca ordered.
Vanessa glared at him, refusing to move.
“Pick it up, Vanessa!” Luca yelled, his voice echoing like thunder. “Read what your precious uncle actually did!”
Vanessa hesitated. She motioned for one of her men to keep his gun on Luca, then slowly crouched down and picked up the envelope.
She pulled out the heavy, leather-bound ledger.
“Page forty-two,” my mother said quietly. “Read the expenses from July 14th, fifteen years ago.”
Vanessa opened the book. Her eyes scanned the page.
The color instantly drained from her face.
“Payment to the harbor master,” Vanessa read aloud, her voice trembling. “Payment to Marco for… engine tampering.”
She looked up, absolute horror in her eyes.
“Marco tampered with my father’s boat?” she whispered.
“Carlo paid him to do it,” my mother confirmed. “Your father was going to take the Bellini family legitimate. Carlo wanted to keep the drug routes open. He killed his own brother to take the throne, Vanessa. And he used Marco to do it.”
Vanessa stared at the book, her hands shaking so violently the pages rustled.
“No,” she choked out. “No, Uncle Carlo loves me.”
“He used you,” Luca said softly, lowering his gun an inch. “He used you to infiltrate my family because he’s broke. The Cartel is coming for him, Vanessa. He needed the Moretti cash to pay them off. You were just a pawn.”
Vanessa looked at the five men standing behind her.
They were her uncle’s men.
The lead gunman, a massive man with a scar over his left eyebrow, stepped forward.
Marco.
He didn't look at Vanessa. He looked directly at Luca.
“Enough talking,” Marco grunted. He raised his assault rifle.
Vanessa suddenly spun around, aiming her shotgun directly at Marco’s chest.
“Did you kill my father?!” she screamed, her face twisted in agony.
Marco didn't even flinch.
“Put the gun down, little girl,” Marco sneered. “Carlo said if you got too emotional, I was supposed to handle you, too.”
Vanessa pulled the trigger.
The blast echoed like a cannon in the enclosed space.
Marco was thrown backward onto the concrete, instantly dead.
Chaos erupted.
The remaining four gunmen opened fire.
“Down!” Luca roared.
He tackled my mother to the ground behind the black SUV.
I dove behind a stack of wooden shipping crates, shielding Leo with my entire body as bullets shredded the brick wall above us.
Wood splinters rained down on my hair. Leo was crying softly, his little hands gripping my shirt.
“I’ve got you, Leo. You’re safe,” I chanted, praying it was true.
Through the deafening gunfire, I heard a sharp cry.
I peeked around the edge of the crate.
Vanessa was lying on the floor, clutching her stomach. A dark pool of blood was spreading rapidly across the red silk of her dress. She had been hit in the crossfire.
Luca popped up from behind the SUV, returning fire with lethal precision. Two of Carlo’s men dropped instantly.
The last two gunmen realized they were outgunned by a man who had nothing left to lose.
They scrambled back into their vehicles, throwing them into reverse and tearing out of the alley, abandoning Vanessa to die.
The warehouse fell into a ringing silence, broken only by the sound of the rain and Vanessa’s ragged breathing.
Luca stood up slowly, keeping his gun raised as he cleared the corners.
When he was sure they were gone, he rushed over to the crates.
“Hannah! Are you hit?” he demanded, falling to his knees.
“We’re okay,” I gasped, sitting up and checking Leo. The boy was terrified, covered in dust, but completely unharmed.
Luca let out a heavy breath, kissing the top of Leo’s head.
My mother crawled out from behind the SUV. She walked slowly over to where Vanessa was lying on the concrete.
Luca followed her.
Vanessa was gasping for air, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the ceiling.
Luca knelt beside the woman he was supposed to marry today.
He didn't look gloating. He just looked sad.
Vanessa looked at him, tears streaming down her pale face.
“He killed my dad, Luca,” she whispered, blood bubbling at the corner of her mouth.
“I know,” Luca said softly.
May you like
Vanessa reached out with a trembling, bloodstained hand. She grabbed Luca’s sleeve.
“Stop him,” Vanessa choked out. “Carlo… is at the restaurant. He went for your mother.”
