Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT THE MAFIA KING CHOSE A CHILD
Victor Costa had made one fatal mistake.
He believed Dante Moretti valued power more than people.
He believed the man who controlled half the waterfront in New York would sacrifice anyone to protect his empire.
He had never understood that Dante's greatest weakness was also his greatest strength.
Family.
"Let them go," Dante said.
Victor smiled.
"Which one?"
Dante looked at Luca.
His brother's face was bruised.
Blood stained his collar.
Then Dante looked at Sophia.
She was trembling beneath the blanket.
"Both."
Victor laughed.
"Still giving orders."
Margaret stood behind Sophia, one hand resting on the child's shoulder.
Dante noticed her grip.
Too tight.
Sophia winced.
His voice dropped.
"Take your hand off her."
Margaret hesitated.
Victor raised his pistol.
"Don't test me."
Dante slowly placed the bronze seal on the ground.
"There. You have what you wanted."
Victor looked toward Margaret.
"Get it."
She stepped away from Sophia.
For one precious second, the child stood alone.
Dante moved.
Not toward Victor.
Toward Sophia.
He crossed the distance in three strides, scooped her into his arms, and turned his body to shield her.
A gunshot exploded.
Pain tore through his left shoulder.
He stumbled.
Sophia screamed.
"Uncle Dante!"
Dante dropped behind a stone planter, holding her against his chest.
"Close your eyes, sweetheart."
Another shot shattered the porch light.
Darkness swallowed the yard.
Then Marco's voice thundered from the trees.
"Drop your weapons!"
Security teams emerged from both sides of the property.
Victor fired once more.
Then fled toward the lake.
Margaret dropped to her knees.
Luca fell beside the porch steps.
Dante pressed a hand against his bleeding shoulder.
Sophia was crying.
"Are you dying?"
He forced a smile.
"No, little miss."
"You're bleeding."
"I noticed."
She touched his cheek.
"Mommy says Band-Aids help."
Dante almost laughed.
"Then I'll need a very big one."
Marco reached them.
"Boss!"
"Get her out of here."
Sophia clung to Dante's jacket.
"No!"
Dante kissed the top of her head.
"Go with Marco. Your mommy's waiting."
"Promise you'll come?"
He looked at her.
"I promise."
This time, he intended to keep it.
Marco carried Sophia toward the waiting vehicles.
Dante tried to stand.
Pain flashed through his shoulder.
Then Luca crawled toward him.
"Dante."
Dante turned.
His brother's eyes were filled with tears.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Dante gripped his arm.
"Not now."
"You need to know."
"Luca—"
"Victor told me you knew."
Dante froze.
"Knew what?"
Luca swallowed.
"That I wasn't your brother."
Dante stared at him.
"He said you only kept me around because Dad made you."
"That's a lie."
"He showed me documents."
"Forged documents."
Luca shook his head.
"No. Not all of them."
Dante felt a cold knot form in his stomach.
"What are you saying?"
Luca looked toward the lake.
"Victor told me who my real mother was."
Dante waited.
"Her name was Gabriella Costa."
The world seemed to tilt.
Dante stared at Luca.
Gabriella.
Victor's murdered wife.
Isabella's mother.
Luca's voice broke.
"And Victor said Isabella is my sister."
Dante shook his head.
"No."
"He said our father took me after Gabriella died."
Dante gripped Luca's shoulders.
"Listen to me. Whatever your blood says, you're my brother."
Luca began crying.
Dante pulled him close despite the pain.
Then Luca whispered something that made Dante's blood run cold.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Victor wasn't trying to steal your empire."
Dante looked at him.
"Then what was he trying to do?"
Luca swallowed.
"He was trying to stop Isabella."
Dante went still.
"Stop her from what?"
May you like
Luca's face turned pale.
"From killing you at the wedding."
