Chapter 6 - The Mafia Family Fell Apart In One Night
Marco survived.
Barely.
But Teresa had finally chosen a side.
The police arrived before midnight.
Not regular police.
Federal investigators.
For years, Dominic's family had operated in the shadows.
Now those shadows were being dragged into the light.
Maya stood in the hallway while agents carried boxes of documents from the estate.
Dominic approached.
“You should leave.”
“No.”
“It will get ugly.”
“It already is.”
He looked exhausted.
She reached for his hand.
He took it.
“My mother was right.”
“About what?”
“You chose me.”
He looked at her.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because the first time I saw you, you were exhausted and still refused to lower your eyes.”
Maya smiled.
“That was a bad first impression.”
“It was the best one I've ever had.”
She laughed.
He leaned closer.
“I love you.”
She froze.
He didn't look away.
“I love you, Maya.”
She whispered,
“That's a dangerous thing to say.”
“I know.”
“I don't know if I'm ready.”
“I'll wait.”
That answer nearly broke her.
For the first time in her life, someone wanted her without demanding that she become smaller.
But the night was not over.
A message arrived.
Sophie's hospital room had been emptied.
Maya's blood froze.
“What?”
“She was discharged.”
“No.”
Dominic called.
No answer.
His entire expression changed.
“She was taken.”
Maya felt panic rising.
“No.”
Dominic grabbed his coat.
“We find her.”
They traced the vehicle to an old dock.
The place was abandoned.
Rain hammered the river.
Maya ran inside.
“Sophie!”
No answer.
Then a light switched on.
Sophie sat in a chair.
Untied.
Waiting.
Beside her stood a man.
Maya recognized him.
Her mother’s old employer.
And behind him—
Her mother.
Older.
Alive.
Maya stopped breathing.
“No.”
The woman looked at her.
“Maya.”
Maya could not move.
Sophie started crying.
“She came for me.”
Maya's lips trembled.
“You're alive.”
Elena nodded.
“I had to disappear.”
“You left me.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I wanted you to hate me.”
“Why?”
“Because hate keeps people away.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“You were working undercover.”
Elena nodded.
“Against the Bellini network.”
Maya stared.
“What?”
“The ledger was evidence.”
“But you stole it.”
“Yes.”
“And my father?”
“He was helping me.”
“Who killed him?”
Elena looked away.
“Marco.”
Maya's heart broke.
Her mother continued.
“Your father knew he would die.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I believed distance would keep you alive.”
Maya wiped tears from her face.
“You chose for me.”
“I know.”
She looked at Dominic.
“And now?”
Elena smiled sadly.
“Now she gets to choose for herself.”
Maya walked to her mother.
She wanted to hug her.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to hit her.
Instead she asked,
“Do you love me?”
Elena broke down.
“Every day.”
Maya embraced her.
The reunion lasted less than a minute.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire.
Dominic pulled Maya behind a crate.
Elena disappeared into the darkness.
When the lights came back, she was gone.
Only a note remained.
Protect my daughter.
Dominic looked at Maya.
“We're not finished.”
She nodded.
“No.”
May you like
This time there was no fear in her face.
Only determination.
