Chapter 7 - THE EMPTY CHAMBER
Click.
The sound echoed through the silent penthouse.
Adrian stared at his gun, his eyes wide with confusion.
He pulled the trigger again.
Click.
Click.
Luca lowered his weapon slightly, a cold, humorless smile touching his lips.
“Did you really think Marco would let a traitor keep a loaded weapon while guarding my family?”
Marco stepped forward, tossing a handful of bullets onto the floor.
They clattered against the hardwood.
“Your inside man was disarmed an hour ago, Adrian,” Marco said flatly. “The gun you took from him in the hallway was empty.”
Adrian let out a scream of pure frustration.
He threw the useless gun at Luca, but Marco easily swatted it away.
Before Adrian could make another move, two of Luca’s guards tackled him to the ground, pinning his arms behind his back.
The heavy gold medallion fell from his grasp, sliding across the floor and stopping at Luca’s feet.
Luca reached down and picked it up.
He looked at the intricate family crest, the symbol of power that had torn their family apart for four decades.
He walked over to Julian.
Teresa was holding her son tightly, tears of absolute relief streaming down her face.
Luca held the medallion out to Julian.
“This belongs to you, brother.”
Julian looked at the gold crest.
He didn't reach for it.
Instead, he looked at his mother.
Then he looked at Mia, who was still huddled in my arms on the sofa.
“I don't want it, Luca,” Julian said softly.
Luca frowned.
“It’s yours by right. You are the firstborn.”
Julian shook his head, his innocent eyes filled with a profound wisdom.
“Vittorio gave it to me to protect me. But it only brought pain. It made Adrian hate me. It made me a target.”
He gently pushed Luca’s hand away.
“I just want to build sets at the theater. I want to take Mia to the park. I want to eat breakfast at Mama’s diner.”
Julian smiled at Luca.
“You are the boss, Luca. You always were.”
Luca stared at his older brother.
The man who had every right to the throne, rejecting it for a life of peace.
Luca closed his fist around the medallion.
He turned toward Adrian, who was struggling against the guards on the floor.
“Take him to the Commission,” Luca ordered Marco. “Present the evidence of his extortion, his attempted murder of a family member, and the proof of his true parentage. Let them decide his fate.”
Adrian stopped struggling.
The reality of his situation finally settled in.
Without the Moretti bloodline, the Commission would show him no mercy.
He was dragged out of the penthouse, screaming, leaving the room in stunned silence.
Luca let out a long, heavy breath, holstering his weapon.
The tension that had gripped him since he walked into the diner that morning finally broke.
He turned and looked at me.
I was still sitting on the sofa, holding Mia tightly against my chest, wearing his heavy coat.
Luca walked over to us.
He knelt down, bringing himself to eye level with Mia.
“Are you okay, Principessa?” he asked softly.
Mia sniffled, nodding slowly.
“Are the bad men gone?”
“They are gone forever,” Luca promised.
Mia let go of me and bravely reached out, wrapping her small arms around Luca’s neck.
Luca closed his eyes, hugging the little girl tightly.
For the first time, I saw the ruthless mafia boss completely unguarded.
He looked up at me over Mia’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Emily,” he whispered. “For protecting her. For protecting my family.”
I smiled softly, my own adrenaline finally crashing.
“I’m just glad it’s over.”
Luca stood up, helping me to my feet.
He didn't step back.
He reached out and gently adjusted the collar of his coat around my shoulders.
His fingers brushed against my neck, sending a warm shiver down my spine.
“You aren't going back to that small apartment tonight,” Luca said.
I blinked in surprise.
“I have to. My shift is over, and my landlord—”
“Your landlord works for me,” Luca interrupted gently. “And you no longer live in that building.”
I stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Luca looked at Teresa.
“Mrs. Russo. The apartment above the diner. The one Adrian tried to force you out of.”
Teresa nodded.
“It’s empty. I haven't lived up there in years. I use the first-floor bedroom.”
Luca looked back at me.
“It’s yours, Emily. Rent-free. For as long as you want it.”
My mouth fell open.
“Luca, I can't accept that.”
“You saved my brother’s life,” Luca said firmly. “You saved my niece. It’s the least I can do.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper.
He handed it to me.
I opened it.
It was a bank receipt.
A transfer of fifty thousand dollars to the hospital where my mother had her surgery.
The medical debt that had been crushing me for months was completely paid off.
Tears spilled over my cheeks.
I couldn't speak. I just covered my mouth, sobbing openly.
Luca stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a warm, secure embrace.
“You are under my protection now, Emily,” he whispered into my hair. “Nobody will ever touch you or your family again.”
I buried my face in his chest, letting the exhaustion and relief wash over me.
May you like
In one day, I had lost my job, fought assassins, and uncovered a forty-year-old mafia secret.
But I had also found a family.
