Chapter 14 - Lily Finally Chose Her Side
Roman did not go alone.
He also did not bring an army.
That was compromise.
Federal agents surrounded the meeting area.
Roman wore a recording device.
Daniel monitored from a command vehicle.
I stayed at the safe location with Lily and Sophia.
I hated every second.
“So this is what it feels like,” I said.
Lily looked at me.
“What?”
“When someone you love does something dangerous and refuses to stay home.”
She smiled.
“Now you understand Uncle Roman.”
“Unfortunately.”
Vincent met Roman inside an abandoned office near the harbor.
We heard everything through Daniel’s speaker.
Vincent sounded tired.
“You destroyed your father’s legacy.”
Roman answered, “Good.”
“You always were weak where Elena was concerned.”
“Tell me who followed her.”
“You know.”
“No.”
“Mercer.”
“Mercer was waiting for her.”
A pause.
Then Vincent laughed.
“You really never figured it out.”
Roman’s voice hardened.
“Say the name.”
Vincent did.
Tomas Reed.
The guard.
But Tomas had only worked for Roman six years.
Elena died eight months earlier.
Possible.
Yet something felt wrong.
Daniel frowned.
“He’s lying.”
Roman knew too.
“Tomas wasn’t driving.”
Vincent’s voice changed.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“The woman is dead.”
Roman went silent.
I gripped the table.
Vincent continued.
“You could have ruled this city. Instead you listened to Elena’s fantasies about legitimacy.”
“She was right.”
“She made you soft.”
“No. Lily did.”
Silence.
“And Clare,” Roman added.
I blinked.
Sophia smiled.
“Show-off.”
Vincent laughed.
“The baker will leave eventually.”
“Maybe.”
That answer surprised me.
Roman continued.
“That’s her choice.”
My eyes filled.
He finally understood.
“Lily will leave too someday,” Roman said. “She should.”
Vincent sounded disgusted.
“You’re throwing away everything.”
“I’m keeping what matters.”
Daniel motioned.
Agents were moving closer.
Roman asked one final time.
“Who followed Elena?”
Vincent sighed.
Then gave a name.
Anthony Caruso.
His own son.
Anthony had died the previous year in an unrelated illness.
He could no longer be prosecuted.
But Vincent kept talking.
Anthony had been told to stop Elena.
Not harm her.
He followed in heavy rain.
Elena realized.
Drove faster.
Lost control.
No collision.
No planned murder.
But the pursuit caused the crash.
Vincent had hidden it.
Destroyed evidence.
Recovered Elena’s phone.
And spent eight months making sure nobody found the ledger.
Roman’s voice became almost inaudible.
“You threatened her.”
“Yes.”
“You sent Anthony.”
“Yes.”
“You covered it up.”
“Yes.”
“And you came into Lily’s bedroom.”
“For the box.”
Roman breathed slowly.
“You frightened a grieving sixteen-year-old because you were scared of recipe cards.”
Vincent’s anger finally exploded.
“I protected what your father built!”
“No.”
Roman’s answer was calm.
“You protected yourself.”
Agents entered.
Vincent realized.
“You recorded me.”
“Yes.”
“You brought police?”
“Federal agents.”
“You coward.”
Roman laughed softly.
“My sister spent years telling me exactly what you would call this.”
Agents ordered Vincent to put his hands where they could see them.
For one terrifying second he refused.
Then Roman said something none of us expected.
“Don’t make Lily remember another death.”
Silence.
Vincent surrendered.
No gunfire.
No revenge.
No bodies.
Just handcuffs.
When Roman returned two hours later, Lily waited in the entryway.
He walked inside.
She stared at him.
“Did you hurt him?”
“No.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
She ran to him.
Roman caught her.
I turned away because the moment belonged to them.
But Lily looked over his shoulder.
“Clare.”
I stepped closer.
Lily grabbed my arm and pulled me into the hug.
Roman’s hand found mine behind her back.
Sophia began crying loudly.
We all looked at her.
“What?” she demanded. “I’m older. I’m allowed.”
For the first time since I had met Roman Duca, the danger felt as if it were moving away from us instead of closer.
But legal consequences remained.
For Vincent.
May you like
For the men who helped him.
And for Roman himself.
