Chapter 9 - THE FINAL SHOWDOWN IN ROOM 4B
I moved entirely on instinct.
I threw myself in front of my mother’s hospital bed, shielding her frail body with my own. I reached frantically into my apron pocket, praying I hadn't dropped the heavy pistol during the escape.
My fingers wrapped around cold metal.
I yanked the gun out and leveled it directly at Vincent’s chest.
“Get out,” I said. My voice didn't shake. I wasn't a terrified maid anymore. I was a daughter protecting her mother.
Vincent let out a low chuckle, leaning casually on his silver cane.
“Impressive, Elena. But if you pull that trigger, the silencer in my pocket will put a bullet through your mother’s head before I hit the ground.”
He pulled a small, suppressed handgun from his jacket, aiming it straight at my mother.
“What do you want?” I demanded, keeping my weapon steady.
“The brass key,” Vincent said coldly. “I know Mia had it. I know she gave it to Dominic. But Dominic doesn't have it on him right now. Which means he gave it to you to hold.”
My mind raced. The brass key. The key to the old wine cellar where Aunt Rosa had been kept.
Why would Vincent risk his life walking into a hospital full of Dominic’s men for a basement key?
Then it hit me.
“It’s not just a basement key,” I realized aloud.
Vincent’s smile tightened. “Ten years ago, Bianca moved three million dollars in untraceable cartel diamonds into a floor safe in that wine cellar. The brass key is the only way to open the safe. I want the key, Elena. Hand it over, and I walk away.”
I stared at him. The sheer greed of this man had destroyed my family, murdered Caroline, and nearly killed Mia.
“The estate exploded, Vincent,” I said, buying time. “The cellar is buried under a thousand tons of rubble.”
“I’ll dig it out with my bare hands if I have to,” he hissed, taking a step closer. “Give me the key.”
“Drop the weapon, Vincent.”
The voice was cold, deep, and echoed like thunder in the small room.
Vincent froze.
Standing in the doorway behind him was Dominic.
He didn't have a gun raised. He didn't need one. He looked like the devil incarnate, his dark suit dusted in ash, his eyes completely dead.
“Dominic,” Vincent stammered, slowly turning around. “Listen to me. Bianca forced me to do it. She threatened my family—”
Dominic moved faster than I thought humanly possible.
He grabbed Vincent’s wrist, twisting it violently backward. A sickening snap echoed through the room. Vincent screamed as his gun dropped to the floor.
Dominic didn't stop. He kicked Vincent’s silver cane out from under him, sending the traitor crashing to the linoleum.
Before Vincent could move, Dominic planted a heavy boot squarely on his chest, pinning him to the floor.
“You touched the mother of my child,” Dominic whispered, leaning down. “You terrorized my daughter. You threatened my family.”
“Please,” Vincent begged, blood pouring from his nose. “Please, Boss.”
Dominic looked up at me.
“Elena. Cover your mother’s eyes.”
I turned around, pressing my mother’s face gently against my shoulder.
I didn't watch. But I heard the sickening thud.
When I turned back around, Vincent was unconscious on the floor.
Dominic adjusted his cuffs, breathing heavily. He looked at Carlo’s men rushing down the hallway.
“Take him to the warehouse,” Dominic ordered. “He doesn't see tomorrow.”
They dragged Vincent’s limp body out of the room.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Dominic slowly turned to look at me. The violent rage melted from his face, replaced by complete exhaustion.
He walked over to my mother’s bed.
To my absolute shock, the most feared mafia boss in Chicago dropped to his knees beside the hospital mattress.
He took my mother’s wrinkled hand in his large, tattooed fingers.
“Mrs. Parker,” Dominic said softly. “I am so incredibly sorry for what happened tonight. I promise you, on my life, you will never be frightened again.”
My mother looked at him, completely confused but entirely charmed. “Well, aren’t you a handsome young man. Are you Elena’s boss?”
Dominic smiled warmly. “I used to be. But starting tomorrow, she doesn't work for me anymore.”
I panicked. “Dominic, please, I need that job to pay for—”
He stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Elena, you saved my mother. You saved my daughter. You held a gun on a cartel lieutenant to protect your family.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy envelope. He placed it in my hands.
“There is enough in there to pay for top-tier medical care for your mother for the rest of her life. You are buying a house in the safest neighborhood in the city. And you are never cleaning another floor as long as you live.”
Tears streamed down my face. I opened the envelope. It was packed with cashier's checks. Millions.
“Dominic, I can’t accept this.”
“You will,” he said firmly. “Because you are family now.”
Just then, Mia ran into the hospital room. She was wearing her little yellow coat, holding Mrs. Moretti’s hand.
“Daddy!” Mia cheered, running over and hugging Dominic’s leg.
Dominic scooped her up, burying his face in her dark curls. “I’m here, baby. I’m right here.”
Mia looked over his shoulder at me. She smiled, her bright brown eyes filled with pure joy.
“You’re safe now, Mia,” I whispered, wiping my tears.
The nightmare was finally over. We had all survived.
But as Mrs. Moretti walked into the room, pushing Aunt Rosa in her wheelchair, she looked at me with a very serious expression.
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“Elena, sweetheart,” Mrs. Moretti said, reaching into her purse. “There is one last thing you need to see.”
TITLE: THE FINAL HEIRLOOM'S SECRET
