Chapter 8 - THE NECKLACE
The gunshot deafened my good ear.
Arthur cried out, dropping his gun and clutching his right shoulder.
He fell to his knees.
I didn’t wait.
I sprinted across the concrete floor.
“Leo!”
I threw my arms around my son, burying my face in his hair.
He was shaking violently, crying silently into my neck.
“Mommy’s here. Mommy’s got you.”
I looked over.
Vanessa had managed to break her zip-ties during the chaos.
She scrambled across the floor and grabbed Mia, pulling the little girl into a desperate embrace.
Mia was weak, her skin shockingly pale, but she clung to her mother.
Luca walked slowly over to his uncle.
Arthur was bleeding heavily, looking up at Luca with wide, terrified eyes.
“Luca... wait. We’re family.”
Luca’s face showed no emotion.
“You stopped being family the night you killed my brother.”
He raised the gun again.
“Luca, no!”
The scream came from Vanessa.
Luca paused, looking back at her.
“Don’t do it in front of them,” Vanessa pleaded, her voice cracking as she held Mia tightly. “Don’t let this be the first thing she remembers about her uncle.”
Luca stared at the little girl.
Mia was looking at him with wide, frightened eyes.
Slowly, Luca lowered the weapon.
He looked at Daniel, who was struggling to his feet.
“Daniel.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Take Arthur to the basement of the south warehouse. Lock him in. Have the doctor patch his shoulder. I’ll deal with him tomorrow.”
Daniel grabbed Arthur by the collar, dragging the groaning man out into the rain.
The warehouse was suddenly very quiet.
Just the sound of the rain on the tin roof.
Luca turned and looked at Vanessa.
She flinched, holding Mia tighter.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Luca, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you he took her. I thought you were involved. I didn’t trust anyone.”
Luca reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small gold chain.
A necklace.
It had a tiny ‘M’ charm on it.
He walked over and knelt down in front of Mia.
He held it out.
“Your father bought this for you the day you were born,” Luca said gently. “He wanted you to wear it when you were big enough.”
Mia looked at the necklace, then up at Vanessa.
Vanessa nodded, tears streaming down her face.
Mia reached out with a tiny, fragile hand and took the necklace.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Luca stood up.
May you like
He looked at me, holding Leo.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
