Chapter 6 - THE BOSS WHO CALLED THE POLICE
The outer-gate blast injured no one.
That was deliberate.
Matteo wanted message, not casualties.
Federal investigators found device assembled from common components, no useful prints.
He had crossed line from hidden manipulation to overt terror.
Adrian’s advisers divided immediately.
Old guard wanted retaliation.
Younger legal team wanted cooperation.
At midnight, twenty men filled conference room.
I had no business there.
Adrian asked me to stay.
Not because fiancée.
Because I had become target and witness.
One lieutenant named Salvatore pounded table.
“Ricci only understands force.”
Adrian said:
“And where has that gotten us?”
“Alive.”
Serafina answered from corner:
“Also buried half our family.”
Silence.
Adrian:
“No unauthorized retaliation.”
Salvatore stared.
“Boss—”
“No.”
“If we look weak—”
“Calling police isn't weakness.”
Old room practically gasped.
Adrian continued:
“We're ending cycles.”
Someone muttered.
He heard.
“My father’s way killed Giovanni, cousins, drivers, people who never chose any of this. Matteo wants me to become Vittorio because then war makes sense.”
He looked around.
“I’m not giving him father he needs.”
That line.
I felt something shift.
After meeting, I found Adrian alone on terrace despite cold.
“You did good.”
He smiled faintly.
“High praise from accidental fiancée.”
“Former accidental fiancée.”
“Public correction didn't help internet.”
True.
I stood beside.
“Why did you climb into bed?”
He laughed.
“We're back to that?”
“Yes.”
“I told you.”
“Not fully.”
He sighed.
He returned estate at 4 a.m. after meeting with prosecutors about legitimizing Moretti shipping interests.
He found corridor camera disabled.
Then saw my shoes outside his bedroom? I had removed due bleeding feet, stumbled in.
He entered with gun drawn.
Found me asleep.
He recognized from Seaport event.
“Why not wake me?”
“You were crying.”
I froze.
“I was?”
“In sleep.”
I didn't remember.
“You said ‘Mom, don’t leave Noah.’”
Nightmare old.
He sat nearby waiting security sweep.
Then I rolled toward him and grabbed sleeve.
“You said five minutes.”
My stomach dropped.
“I was reliving work?”
“Apparently.”
He sat edge.
I moved closer for warmth.
Eventually he lay beside over blanket, intending remain alert.
Fell asleep.
His arm around waist?
“At some point you used my arm as pillow.”
I covered face.
“Kill me.”
“No.”
“Metaphorically.”
“Still no.”
He smiled.
Then:
“I knew someone had placed you there.”
“What?”
“West wing off-limits. Staff doesn't enter accidentally.”
“You suspected trap and still stayed beside bait.”
“I thought trap was assassination attempt on me.”
“Comforting.”
“I didn't think you were threat.”
“Why?”
“You argued with donor for waitress.”
Again.
“You keep bringing that up.”
“It told me you react before calculating hierarchy.”
“That’s compliment?”
“In my world, yes.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“I announced engagement because grandmother said ‘this is the woman.’”
“You misunderstood?”
“For one second, I thought she knew something I didn't.”
I laughed.
Then guard shouted “they know she’s here,” adrenaline.
“I chose fastest status protection.”
“Without asking.”
“Yes.”
“You regret?”
He looked at me.
“Not entirely.”
Heat.
“Adrian.”
“I regret deciding for you.”
Better.
Then phone buzzed.
Lucia.
Matteo had contacted.
He wanted meet Adrian alone.
Of course no.
FBI controlled negotiation.
Matteo sent coordinates to abandoned church in Worcester.
He said he would surrender if Adrian heard “truth.”
Could be trap.
Authorities planned.
Adrian agreed wearing wire, tactical teams.
I objected.
“You said no going alone.”
“I won't be alone.”
“Technically invisible agents don't count.”
He took my hands.
“It's my choice.”
My own lesson returned.
I hated.
“Yes.”
He went.
I stayed with Lucia.
Hours.
Then audio through command? We wouldn't hear perhaps. Later told.
Inside church Matteo stood unarmed initially.
He looked like Lucia around eyes.
He told Adrian:
“Your father killed my uncle.”
Warehouse worker was Lucia and Maria’s younger brother Daniel DeLuca, not random worker.
Aha.
Family secret.
Daniel had been helping Lucia collect records.
He died in fire.
Lucia never told Elena because Maria didn't know? Maria believed younger brother died accidental. This deepens.
Vittorio ordered fire knowing Daniel inside.
Carlo knew.
Covered.
Matteo grew hearing Moretti killed uncle.
That grievance real.
Adrian:
“My father did.”
“You admit?”
“Yes.”
“You owe blood.”
“No.”
“My family lost Daniel.”
“I didn't kill him.”
“You inherited everything.”
“I inherited responsibility to stop repeating.”
Matteo laughed.
“Convenient.”
Then he produced gun? We must avoid tactical detail. He had concealed weapon. Federal agents intervene when threatened. Brief standoff.
Adrian did not draw? He was maybe unarmed under operation. Matteo pointed.
“You think law makes you clean?”
“No.”
“Then die like Moretti.”
Adrian said:
“If you shoot me, Elena becomes another woman carrying dead men’s choices.”
Matteo hesitated.
Her name mattered.
Then Lucia’s voice came through phone Adrian had? She insisted call.
“Matteo.”
He froze.
She said:
“Daniel was my brother too. I loved him. Adrian is not Vittorio.”
Matteo cried.
“You always choose them.”
“No. I’m choosing you not becoming Carlo.”
Long silence.
Gun lowered.
Agents arrested.
No shootout.
Matteo surrendered.
Not redeemed.
He faced serious charges.
But lived.
Adrian returned estate at dawn.
I ran to him.
Stopped one foot away.
He opened arms.
Choice.
I hugged.
Hard.
“Never do that again.”
“You're very controlling.”
“Shut up.”
He laughed into hair.
Then I kissed him.
No plan.
No fake.
Just relief.
We froze afterward.
Serafina stood hallway.
Of course.
She raised cane.
“So. This is the woman.”
I wanted scream.
May you like
Adrian smiled.
For first time, misunderstanding became possibility.
