What Sophie Heard

"Leo!" I screamed, lunging forward.

Luca threw his arm out, blocking my path and keeping me behind him. His gun remained locked on Vanessa’s chest.

Leo’s face was bruised, and a trail of blood leaked from his split lip. His hands were zip-tied behind his back.

"Emily, don't move," Leo gasped, his eyes wide with terror.

Vanessa pressed the barrel of her gun hard against Leo’s temple. "I wouldn't step any closer, Luca. Unless you want the maid to lose her family, too."

"How did you get him?" Luca demanded, his voice dangerously low.

"Your security detail at the Marriott was severely underpaid," Vanessa smirked. "A hundred grand goes a long way when you need men to look the other way."

She stood up, pulling Leo with her. "Drop the gun, Luca. Put it on the floor, and slide the ledger over."

Luca didn't move. "You think Dante is going to share the throne with you? He just left his own men to die in a parking garage. You’re a liability, Vanessa."

"Dante is weak," Vanessa spat. "He did the dirty work, but I have the brains. With that ledger, I don't need him. I can take over the syndicate myself."

"You're delusional," Luca said.

Vanessa cocked the hammer of her gun. "Drop your weapon, Luca. I will count to three. One."

Luca’s jaw clenched.

"Two," Vanessa said, pressing the gun harder against Leo's head.

"Wait!" I cried out.

I stepped out from behind Luca, holding my hands up.

"Vanessa, please. You want a scapegoat, right? You set up the offshore accounts in Leo’s name. If you kill him now, the money dies with him. You need his fingerprints and his signature to access those funds."

Vanessa’s eyes flicked to me, a cruel smile forming on her lips. "You've been doing your homework, maid."

"Let him go," I pleaded. "Take me instead. I'm the one who ruined your plan four years ago. I'm the one who pulled Sophie out of the fire. You hate me. Not him."

Vanessa considered this. She looked at my scarred arm, visible beneath my torn sleeve.

"You are a pest," Vanessa hissed. "You should have burned in that house with Elena."

"So finish it," I said, stepping closer. "Take me. Let Leo and Sophie walk away."

"Emily, no!" Leo cried.

"Shut up," Vanessa snapped, hitting Leo in the back of the head with the butt of her gun. He groaned, dropping to his knees.

Vanessa pointed her gun at me. "Fine. Get over here. Put your hands on your head."

"Emily, don't do this," Luca warned, his voice tight.

I didn't look at him. I walked toward Vanessa, keeping my eyes locked on her weapon.

As I reached her, she grabbed my hair, yanking my head back, and pressed the hot barrel of the gun to my neck.

"Slide the ledger, Luca," Vanessa ordered.

Luca slowly bent down. He placed his gun on the floor. Then he placed the ledger beside it. He kicked them both across the hardwood. They stopped at Vanessa's feet.

"Good," Vanessa smiled. "Now, Luca, turn around. Walk to the wall."

Luca didn't move. He stared at me, his dark eyes filled with a fierce, burning promise.

"Do it, Luca," I whispered.

He slowly turned his back to us.

Vanessa laughed. "You're so pathetic, Luca. Always trying to play the hero."

She aimed the gun at Luca's back.

She was going to kill him.

I didn't hesitate.

I stomped my heel down as hard as I could onto Vanessa’s instep.

She shrieked in pain, her grip on my hair loosening. I spun around, grabbing her gun arm with both hands and twisting it upward.

The gun went off, the bullet shattering the ceiling light above us.

Sparks rained down as the room was plunged into semi-darkness.

Luca spun around, diving for his weapon on the floor.

Vanessa backhanded me across the face with brutal force. I stumbled backward, tasting copper in my mouth. She swung her gun back toward me, her eyes wild with rage.

But before she could pull the trigger, a small, blurry figure launched itself from the shadows.

It was Sophie.

The twelve-year-old girl threw her stuffed rabbit squarely at Vanessa's face.

The heavy brass key still inside the rabbit hit Vanessa right in the eye.

Vanessa screamed, dropping the gun and clutching her face.

Luca was there in a flash. He grabbed Vanessa by the throat and slammed her against the wall with enough force to crack the drywall.

He pressed the barrel of his gun under her chin.

"Give me one reason," Luca snarled, his voice vibrating with pure, murderous intent. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't end you right now."

Vanessa choked, tears streaming down her face. "Luca... please..."

"Give me a reason!"

Suddenly, red and blue lights flashed through the broken windows of the safe house. Sirens wailed in the distance, rapidly getting louder.

"Daddy," Sophie whispered, trembling as she stood next to me.

Luca stared at Vanessa for three agonizing seconds. Then, he lowered his gun.

"You're not worth it," Luca said in disgust, dropping her to the floor. "And I refuse to let my daughter watch you die."

He turned to Leo and cut his zip-ties with a pocket knife. "Get up, kid. You're safe now."

Leo stood, pulling me into a crushing hug. "You're crazy, Em. You know that?"

I hugged him back, tears finally spilling over. "I promised Mom I'd take care of you."

The door burst open, and a swarm of police officers swarmed the room, followed closely by federal agents.

Luca had made a call before we arrived. He didn't just call his men; he called the FBI. He was handing over the ledger, bringing down his own brother, and walking away from the syndicate.

An agent cuffed Vanessa and dragged her out as she screamed obscenities.

Luca walked over to me and Sophie. He looked exhausted, bloodied, but entirely at peace.

He looked down at my scarred arm, gently tracing the raised skin with his thumb.

"You saved my daughter twice, Emily," he said softly. "How can I ever repay you?"

I looked at him, then at Sophie, who was clutching my hand.

"You don't owe me anything, Luca. Just promise me you'll keep her safe."

Luca looked deeply into my eyes.

"I'll keep you both safe," he promised. "If you'll let me."

My heart skipped a beat.

For the first time in four years, I felt like I could finally stop running.

But as an FBI agent walked past us carrying Vanessa's purse for evidence, something fell out and landed on the floor near my feet.

I looked down.