Chapter 12 - THE LAST NIGHT OF VICTORIA ROSSI
Gabriel had spent eleven years grieving his mother.
Now he discovered that her death had not been an unavoidable tragedy.
It had been a choice.
Vincent Rossi had left her behind.
Elena's voice trembled through the phone.
"Victoria was trapped beneath a collapsed steel beam. Vincent saw her. He could have called for help."
Gabriel gripped the edge of the table.
"Why didn't he?"
"Because she had evidence that could send him to prison."
No one spoke.
Elena continued.
"He told me that if I wanted to keep Harper alive, I would disappear with Noah and never speak about that night."
Harper covered her mouth.
"Mom..."
"I tried to protect both of you. I kept records, collected evidence, and waited for the right moment to bring Vincent down."
Gabriel closed his eyes.
His father hadn't merely deceived him.
He had built an empire on a lie.
Adrian touched his shoulder.
"We can still stop him."
Gabriel looked at Harper.
For once, she wasn't hiding her pain.
She stood beside Noah with tears streaming down her face.
"Then let's finish this," she said.
They worked with the detective and a state investigative team to plan a controlled operation at the abandoned hospital.
Gabriel would not go alone.
Investigators would monitor the property and preserve evidence of any crimes committed there.
Harper insisted on staying involved as a witness but agreed to remain at a secure location.
Before Gabriel left, she caught his hand.
"Promise me something."
"Anything I can honestly promise."
"Don't become like him."
Gabriel looked at her.
"I won't."
She nodded.
"Because I don't want another man deciding that violence is the only answer."
Gabriel gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Neither do I."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Harper kissed his cheek.
"Come back."
He smiled faintly.
"I intend to."
At eleven forty-five, Gabriel arrived near St. Catherine's Hospital with the investigators.
The abandoned building rose against the Chicago skyline, its broken windows reflecting the moon.
Inside, a single light burned on the fourth floor.
Gabriel entered with the approved recording equipment concealed beneath his jacket.
Vincent waited beside a hospital bed.
Mitchell stood near the door.
And Evelyn Marsh sat by the window.
Vincent smiled.
"My son. You finally came."
Gabriel looked past him.
A woman lay on the bed beneath a white blanket.
Her face was turned toward the wall.
Vincent followed his gaze.
"Looking for Elena?"
Gabriel remained silent.
Vincent smiled wider.
"She's been here all along."
The woman turned.
Her eyes opened.
Gabriel's breath caught.
It wasn't Elena.
It was Victoria Rossi.
May you like
His mother.
Alive.
