Chapter 8 - THE CONFESSION
The red and blue lights of the police cruisers flashed through the massive library windows, casting long, eerie shadows across the walls.
Marco stood by the window, the micro-SD card pinched between his fingers. He looked at Dominic. “Tell the police to come up. But only the Captain.”
Dominic nodded and relayed the order to the men downstairs.
Vivian was still sitting on the floor, her knees pulled to her chest. “Marco, please,” she begged, her voice hoarse. “I didn't know he was going to try to kill you tonight. I just wanted my inheritance secured. I was scared of the boy taking everything.”
Marco didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. “You let me walk toward a missing safety rail, Vivian. You knew I couldn't see. You watched me fall, and you said nothing.”
Vivian buried her face in her hands.
“The engagement is over,” Marco said coldly. “You’ll leave Chicago tonight. You’ll leave the house with nothing but the clothes on your back. If I ever see you in this city again, I won't be so forgiving.”
Vivian nodded frantically. Two of Marco’s men hauled her to her feet and escorted her out of the room.
Leo groaned from the floor, clutching his bleeding shoulder. “You can’t give that card to the cops, Marco,” Leo sneered. “Half of your own family’s crimes are on it. You’ll go down with me.”
Marco looked at the tiny piece of plastic. He walked over to the heavy marble fireplace. A fire was still burning low in the grate.
Without a word, Marco tossed the micro-SD card directly into the flames.
Leo screamed in frustration. “You idiot! That was your leverage!”
“I don't need blackmail to run my city,” Marco said, watching the plastic melt into ash. “I run it with loyalty. Something you never understood.”
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. The Police Captain walked into the library, flanked by two detectives.
The Captain looked at Leo bleeding on the floor, then at Marco. “What happened here, Bellini?”
Marco gestured to Leo. “This man is responsible for the ambush on the docks last month. He just confessed to kidnapping my son and attempting to extort me. He also shot my driver.”
The Captain raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? And where is the proof?”
“My men have his recorded phone calls from the security system,” Dominic stepped in smoothly. “We’ll provide everything to your office in the morning.”
The Captain signaled his detectives. They hauled Leo to his feet and cuffed him. As they dragged Leo away, Marco turned to my father.
“Antonio,” Marco said gently. “You need a hospital.”
My father waved him off, though he was leaning heavily against me. “I’ve had worse, Boss.”
“You’re not my driver anymore, Antonio,” Marco said. My father looked confused. “You’re taking a seat at my table,” Marco clarified. “As my advisor. You saved my life. You saved my son.”
My father smiled, a true, warm smile. “Thank you, Marco.”
May you like
Marco then turned his gaze to me. His damaged eye was still red, but the darkness that had clouded his expression for weeks was completely gone.
“And you, Sofia,” Marco said softly. He stepped closer.
