Chapter 9 - THE ESCAPE
The lights went out.
Helena screamed.
Carmine moved instantly.
He crossed the distance between himself and Leo.
Another shot cracked through the darkness.
Carmine grabbed his son and dropped behind a steel crate.
Leo buried his face in Carmine’s chest.
“Daddy.”
“I have you.”
“Don’t leave.”
“I won’t.”
Carmine pulled off his coat and wrapped it around Leo.
Emergency lights flickered red.
Marco’s men entered from the side tunnel.
Vittorio shouted orders.
Carmine saw Helena running toward a side door.
Vittorio raised his weapon toward her.
Carmine kicked a metal cart into his path.
The shot struck steel.
Helena disappeared through the doorway.
Carmine did not care.
Not yet.
He lifted Leo.
Marco reached them.
“Go.”
“What about Vittorio?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No.”
Carmine looked at him.
“Alive.”
Marco understood.
Carmine needed answers.
And evidence.
They moved toward the tunnel.
Leo was trembling.
“Cold.”
Carmine held him tighter.
“We’re going home.”
Behind them, sirens became audible.
Marco had anonymously alerted local authorities before the confrontation.
Carmine had spent half his life avoiding police involvement.
Tonight he wanted them.
He wanted a public record.
He wanted Vittorio’s return from the dead documented.
He wanted every piece of this conspiracy dragged into daylight.
They reached the tunnel entrance.
A figure stepped from the shadows.
Matteo.
Carmine stopped.
Matteo held a pistol.
His face was pale.
“Give me the boy.”
Carmine stared at him.
“You’re finished.”
Matteo laughed nervously.
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“My father will kill me.”
Carmine looked back toward the warehouse.
“He might not get the chance.”
Matteo’s hand shook.
“Give me Leo.”
“You will have to shoot me.”
Matteo looked at the child.
Leo was staring at him over Carmine’s shoulder.
Recognition appeared in his face.
“Uncle Matteo.”
Matteo flinched.
Leo had always called him uncle.
At birthdays.
At dinners.
At Christmas.
Matteo’s weapon lowered slightly.
Carmine saw the hesitation.
“You carried him at Sofia’s funeral.”
Matteo’s eyes filled with something close to shame.
“Stop.”
“You bought him that wooden train.”
“Stop.”
“He trusted you.”
Matteo’s grip weakened.
Then Vittorio’s voice came from behind him.
“Useless.”
Matteo turned.
Vittorio fired.
Matteo collapsed.
Carmine shielded Leo’s face.
Marco fired toward Vittorio.
Vittorio disappeared behind a support column.
Matteo gasped on the floor.
Carmine handed Leo to Marco.
“Take him.”
Marco hesitated.
“Go.”
Marco carried Leo into the tunnel.
Carmine crouched beside Matteo.
Blood darkened his shirt.
Matteo grabbed Carmine’s sleeve.
“The music box.”
“Where?”
Matteo coughed.
“My apartment.”
“Study.”
“Behind my mother’s portrait.”
Carmine leaned closer.
“What’s on it?”
Matteo’s breathing became shallow.
“Everything.”
“The boat.”
“The transfers.”
“Helena.”
“My father.”
Carmine looked toward the column where Vittorio disappeared.
“Why keep it?”
Matteo’s eyes filled with tears.
“Insurance.”
Carmine almost laughed at the tragedy of it.
Even betrayal had layers of betrayal.
Matteo whispered.
“I never meant for Leo.”
Carmine stared at him.
“You helped them.”
“I know.”
“You helped destroy my family.”
“I know.”
Matteo closed his eyes.
Then he whispered one final sentence.
“He has someone inside your house.”
Carmine’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Matteo tried to answer.
But his body went still.
Carmine stood.
Someone inside the house.
Someone still there.
May you like
Someone Leo trusted.
And Leo was already on his way home.
