Chapter 8 - THE ROSARY
The pier went dead silent, except for the rain.
Carlo stared at his daughter in shock.
“Sofia,” Carlo said slowly. “Put the gun down.”
Sofia’s hands were shaking, but her eyes were wild with a lifetime of resentment.
“You lied to me,” Sofia screamed at her father. “You told me Dante would love me! You told me I was going to be the Queen of New York!”
“You are!” Carlo yelled back. “Once they’re dead!”
“He doesn’t look at me!” Sofia shrieked, pointing the gun wildly between Carlo and Dante. “He only looks at her! The maid!”
She swung the gun toward me.
I shielded Lily with my body.
Dante immediately stepped into the line of fire.
“Sofia, don’t do this,” Dante said.
“You ruined everything!” Sofia cried, aiming at my chest.
She pulled the trigger.
Dante lunged.
BANG.
The gunshot echoed over the water.
Dante grunted, his body twisting violently as he collapsed onto the wet concrete.
“Dante!” I screamed.
I dropped to my knees beside him. Blood was rapidly pooling on the left side of his white shirt, just below his shoulder.
Sofia stood frozen, staring at the gun in her hand, realizing she had just shot the man she claimed to love.
Carlo cursed. “You stupid girl!”
Carlo reached into his coat for his own weapon.
But before he could draw it, the shadows of the shipping containers suddenly came alive.
Dante hadn’t come alone.
Thirty heavily armed men, wearing the Russo crest, stepped out from the darkness. They had surrounded the pier while we were in the vault.
“Drop it, Carlo!” Dante’s lieutenant shouted.
Carlo looked at the army of men aiming laser sights at his chest.
Slowly, he raised his hands.
His guards dropped their weapons.
Sofia dropped her gun, falling to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
I was pressing my hands against Dante’s wound, trying to stop the bleeding. My tears were mixing with the rain on his face.
“Stay with me, Dante,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Please, stay with me.”
Dante looked up at me. His face was pale, but he reached up with a bloodstained hand and tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear.
He coughed, managing a weak smile.
“I told you… you aren’t losing anyone else tonight,” he whispered.
Then, Dante reached into his other pocket.
He pulled out a silver rosary.
It belonged to my mother. The one she had lost years ago.
He pressed it into my hand.
May you like
“They’re finished, Emma,” he breathed.
Then his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
