Chapter 12 - THE HOSTAGE AT THE GATE
I stopped thinking.
I ran toward the front doors.
Victor caught me.
“No.”
“That’s my mother.”
“I know.”
“Let me go.”
“Hannah.”
“If that was Mia, would you stand here?”
His grip loosened immediately.
He knew the answer.
So we went together.
Not unprotected.
Not reckless.
But together.
Richard Vale stood beyond the gates.
Silver hair.
Expensive coat.
Victor’s eyes.
I hated him instantly.
My mother sat in the car behind him.
Terrified.
Richard smiled.
“You look like Elena.”
Victor’s voice was flat.
“Open the car.”
“Not yet.”
“What do you want?”
“Control.”
Victor almost laughed.
“Of?”
“Everything Antonio stole.”
“He didn’t steal me.”
Richard’s smile vanished.
“You’re my son.”
“No.”
“You carry my blood.”
“So does a mosquito if it bites me. That doesn’t make it family.”
I almost smiled.
Richard did not.
He wanted Victor to sign over voting rights in Romano Holdings.
He wanted access to shipping contracts.
Properties.
Security companies.
Legitimate power.
Victor looked at me.
Then at my mother.
“Open the gate.”
Marco stared.
“Boss.”
“Do it.”
I grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Victor leaned close.
“Trust me.”
I hated those words.
But I trusted him.
The gate opened.
Richard stepped inside.
Agents hidden around the property moved into position.
He did not know they were there.
My mother was released.
I ran to her.
She clung to me.
“Baby.”
The word was imperfect.
But clear.
I cried.
Richard held out documents.
Victor took them.
Then tore them in half.
Richard’s face changed.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
Victor stepped closer.
“I think you made the same mistake every man like you makes.”
“What mistake?”
“You thought blood gave you ownership.”
Richard reached beneath his coat.
Agents shouted.
He froze.
Weapons surrounded him.
Victor looked almost disappointed.
Richard laughed.
“You think this ends with me?”
“Probably not.”
“You don’t know who else is involved.”
Carlo stepped out of the house.
Salvatore followed under guard.
Richard’s confidence finally cracked.
Then Hannah DeLuca came too.
Richard stared.
“You.”
She smiled coldly.
“Yes.”
One by one, the ghosts he thought he had buried appeared.
Richard was arrested.
My mother was taken inside.
For the first time, I believed it might actually be over.
Then Rebecca touched my face.
Her eyes filled.
“Hannah.”
“I’m here.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed toward Hannah DeLuca.
Then at me.
“Truth.”
My stomach tightened.
“What truth?”
Both women looked at each other.
Hannah DeLuca started crying.
Rebecca forced out the words.
“Not… daughter.”
I froze.
“I know. Hannah is my biological mother.”
Rebecca shook her head again.
“No.”
Hannah DeLuca whispered:
“Rebecca, don’t.”
My heart pounded.
“What?”
Rebecca pointed toward Victor.
Then toward me.
May you like
And said the sentence that made the room disappear.
“Same father.”
