Chapter 8 - THE RECKONING
The revelation hung heavy in the dimly lit study.
"They’ve had him for five years?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around the cruelty of it.
"They wanted me to believe he was dead so I would take over, thinking I was younger, weaker, and easier to manipulate," Luca said, staring into the fire. "Vanessa was their insurance policy. Planted in my life to keep an eye on me."
I placed my glass down. "What are you going to do?"
"I’m going to tear their empire down until I find him," Luca said. The danger in his eyes was absolute, yet when he looked at me, it softened. "But I cannot do that if I am worrying about my son. Or you."
"I'm not going anywhere," I said firmly. I surprised myself with how steady my voice sounded. Three weeks ago, I was terrified of this man. Now, I couldn't imagine leaving.
The next few weeks were a blur of calculated chaos. Luca dismantled the Rossi family’s operations piece by piece. Without Vanessa feeding them our schedules, they were blind. Luca’s men hit their shipments, cut off their supply lines, and isolated their leadership.
I stayed at the estate, managing the household and, more importantly, looking after Leo. The little boy who used to hide in corners was slowly coming back to life. He started speaking in full sentences. He laughed when we baked cookies in the kitchen.
One afternoon, the front gates opened. Ray’s black sedan pulled into the driveway.
I walked out to the steps with Leo. Ray stepped out of the driver's seat. He looked healthier, his color restored, his hands perfectly steady.
He walked up the steps and took his hat off. "Miss Nora."
"Just Nora, Ray," I smiled.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, beautifully carved wooden box. "My wife wanted you to have this. It's not much, but..."
I opened it. Inside was a delicate gold chain with a small pendant of St. Jude—the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes.
"Thank you," I whispered, tears pricking my eyes.
Just then, three black SUVs roared up the driveway, flanking Ray's car. The doors flew open.
Luca stepped out of the lead vehicle. He looked exhausted, covered in dirt and soot. But he wasn't alone.
He reached into the back seat and helped a man out. The man was thin, bearded, and walked with a heavy limp.
May you like
Luca looked up at me on the porch, a wide, exhausted smile breaking across his face.
"Nora," Luca called out. "I'd like you to meet my brother, Carlo."
