Chapter 8 - THE BROTHER'S RETURN
Michael looked terrible.
His suit was torn, his face was bruised, and he was limping heavily. But the look in his eyes was pure, unadulterated fury.
He had been locked in the hold the entire time.
Arthur turned toward the noise, his eyes widening in panic.
That was all the distraction Luca needed.
Before Vanessa could react, Luca lunged forward. He didn't grab for the gun; he grabbed Vanessa’s wrist, twisting it sharply away from his mother’s head.
The gun went off, the bullet shattering the cabin’s glass window.
Vanessa screamed as Luca drove his shoulder into her chest, slamming her hard against the mahogany wall. The gun clattered to the floor.
Arthur lunged for the dropped weapon, but Michael swung the heavy steel wrench, catching the older man squarely in the ribs. Arthur collapsed with a groan of agony.
The cabin descended into sudden, heavy silence.
Luca pinned Vanessa against the wall, his forearm pressed against her throat.
“Give me one reason,” Luca whispered, his voice trembling with a rage that terrified even me. “Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right now.”
Vanessa gasped for air, her eyes filled with tears of defeat.
“Because…” she choked out, “because if I die… you’ll never find the original deed to the estate.”
Luca frowned, loosening his grip just enough for her to speak.
“What deed?”
Vanessa let out a wet, bitter laugh.
“The offshore transfer was just a backup. Three days ago, I had Arthur forge your mother’s signature on the master deed to the Moretti estate. The house, the businesses, everything. It’s already been notarized.”
Michael limped forward. “She’s lying, Luca.”
“Am I?” Vanessa spat, looking at Michael. “You think I spent years playing house with your arrogant brother just to settle for cash? I want the empire. And the deed is hidden somewhere you will never find it.”
She looked back at Luca, a victorious sneer on her bruised face.
“You can kill me, Luca. But by tomorrow, the bank will seize your home. Your mother will die in a state facility, and you’ll be nothing.”
Luca stepped back, completely stunned.
If she had the master deed notarized, she legally owned the ground they walked on.
I watched from the doorway, my heart sinking. She had thought of everything.
But then, I heard a soft, scraping sound.
I looked toward the center of the room.
Teresa was slowly pushing herself up from the chair.
Her wrists were raw from the ropes, but she stood perfectly straight.
She walked over to Vanessa, who was still leaning against the wall, rubbing her throat.
Teresa looked at the woman who had tormented her, starved her, and tried to kill her.
“You always underestimated me, Clara,” Teresa said quietly.
Vanessa sneered. “You’re a senile old fool.”
“Am I?”
Teresa reached into the pocket of her cardigan.
The same cardigan she had worn all evening.
She pulled out a small, folded piece of thick parchment paper.
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
Teresa unfolded it slowly.
It was the master deed to the Moretti estate.
“How…” Vanessa breathed, completely horrified. “How did you get that? It was in my safe!”
Teresa smiled. Her stroke-affected lip lifted perfectly.
“You thought my memory was failing because of your little blue pills,” Teresa said. “But you forgot something important. I built that mansion with my husband fifty years ago.”
She stepped closer to Vanessa.
“I know every hidden floorboard, every safe, and every combination. While you were busy threatening my son, I walked into your room and took back what belongs to my family.”
Vanessa let out a scream of pure frustration and lunged toward Teresa, trying to grab the paper.
But Luca caught her by the collar, throwing her hard to the floor.
“It’s over,” Luca said.
He looked toward the cabin door.
“Carlo!”
Carlo and three guards rushed into the room.
“Take them,” Luca ordered, pointing to Vanessa and Arthur. “Hand them over to the Feds. I want them charged with kidnapping, extortion, and attempted murder. Make sure Clara Rossi spends the rest of her life in the same prison cell her father died in.”
Vanessa didn't scream this time. She just wept, burying her face in her hands as Carlo dragged her away. Arthur followed, limping and defeated.
The nightmare was finally over.
Michael collapsed into a chair, breathing heavily. Luca walked over to him, pulling his younger brother into a tight, desperate embrace.
“I’m sorry, Luca,” Michael cried, hugging him back. “I thought I could handle her alone. I was trying to protect Leo.”
“You did,” Luca said, his voice thick with emotion. “Leo is safe in the car with Hannah.”
At the mention of my name, Luca turned toward the doorway.
He saw me standing there.
He walked over to me, his eyes softening completely.
“You came onto the boat,” he whispered.
“I couldn't stay in the car,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “I had to know she was safe.”
Luca reached out and gently touched my cheek. His hand was warm against the freezing morning air.
Then he walked over to his mother.
Teresa looked exhausted, but she was smiling.
Luca knelt in front of her, resting his head against her lap, just like he did when he was a little boy.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” he wept. “I’m so sorry I didn't see what she was doing to you.”
Teresa stroked his dark hair.
“You see it now, my sweet boy,” she whispered. “That’s all that matters.”
She looked over Luca’s shoulder, right at me.
And she gave me a small, knowing nod.
I smiled back, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.
But as the morning sun began to rise over the lake, casting a golden light through the broken cabin window, Teresa suddenly grabbed her chest.
May you like
She gasped, her eyes rolling back in her head.
“Mom?” Luca shouted, catching her as she collapsed forward into his arms.
