Chapter 5 - THE GOLD POCKET WATCH
The guard’s eyes widened in sheer terror as Luca Moretti materialized from the darkness.
Before the man could even twitch his trigger finger, Luca moved with terrifying, brutal speed.
He grabbed the barrel of the guard’s gun with his left hand, forcing it upward. At the exact same moment, Luca drove the heavy steel grip of his own weapon straight into the guard’s jaw.
The crack of bone echoed through the stairwell.
The guard’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed backward, tumbling down the three stairs to land in a heap at Vanessa’s feet.
Vanessa screamed, stumbling backward toward the heavy metal door.
She turned the handle, desperately trying to pull it open.
Luca descended the remaining stairs with lethal calmness. He reached the bottom, grabbed Vanessa by the back of her heavy coat, and violently threw her against the concrete wall.
“Luca, wait!” Vanessa shrieked, holding her hands up to protect her face.
Luca pressed the barrel of his gun directly under her chin.
“Give me one reason why I shouldn't pull this trigger right now,” Luca said, his voice vibrating with a rage so deep it barely sounded human.
Vanessa sobbed, her perfect makeup ruined.
“Because if I die, you’ll never find the offshore accounts!” she cried. “I took everything, Luca! The money, the jewels, the properties in your mother’s name! It’s all gone!”
“I don't care about the money.” Luca pressed the gun harder into her throat. “Why did you take my niece?”
“Because your father took my brother!” Vanessa screamed back, tears streaming down her face.
Luca froze.
The revelation hit the air like a bomb.
Vanessa was breathing heavily, genuine hatred burning through her fear.
“You think this is about money?” she spat. “Ten years ago, your father ordered a hit on my older brother because he wouldn't bow to your syndicate. He was nineteen, Luca. Nineteen.”
“My father died five years ago,” Luca said coldly.
“But you built your empire on his blood money!” Vanessa yelled. “I swore I would take everything he loved. I’m taking your fortune, your sister, and your legacy. I’m ending the Moretti bloodline.”
I limped down the stairs, standing behind Luca.
“But what about Michael?” I asked, confused. “Why was your best friend helping her?”
Vanessa let out a dark, breathless laugh.
“Michael wasn't helping me. I was blackmailing him.”
She reached into her designer bag, her hands shaking, and pulled out an object.
She dropped it on the floor between us.
It was a heavy gold pocket watch.
I recognized it instantly. It was Michael Dawson’s watch. Luca had given it to him five years ago when Michael saved his life during a shootout. It was Michael’s most prized possession.
“Michael found out what I was doing,” Vanessa sneered. “He tried to take the little girl away from me at the courthouse. He thought he could hide her. But I had my men track him down. I told him if he didn't hand the girl back, I would release the documents proving he skimmed millions from your Chicago ports last year.”
Luca stared at the gold watch on the floor.
His oldest friend hadn't betrayed him. Michael had been trying to save Lily, but he was trapped by his own sins.
“You used his mistakes to force him to hand over a child,” Luca said softly.
“I did what I had to do,” Vanessa said proudly.
Suddenly, the heavy metal door behind Vanessa swung open.
Cold night air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine needles.
And smoke.
I looked past Vanessa, out the open doorway toward the vast, dark expanse of the estate's grounds.
Down by the lake, about three hundred yards away, bright orange flames were licking the night sky.
May you like
Vanessa turned her head. Her cruel smile returned.
“You’re too late anyway, Luca,” she whispered. “The boathouse is already burning.”
