Chapter 12 - Judgment in the Shadows
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Luca did not wait for Falcone to utter another word of pathetic pleading.
He reached down to his ankle holster, drew a small backup revolver, and pressed the cold muzzle against Falcone’s temple.
"This is for my father," Luca whispered coldly into the mobster’s ear.
"And this is for making my mother's hands bleed."
Before Falcone could even draw another breath, Luca pulled the trigger.
The sharp crack of the revolver echoed through the cavernous foyer, and Salvatore Falcone slumped lifelessly onto the floor.
The ghost that had haunted the Moretti family for two decades was finally laid to rest, permanently this time.
Luca dropped the smoking weapon and stood completely still for several seconds, his chest heaving as the adrenaline slowly ebbed away.
Then, he turned around and saw his mother standing at the foot of the stairs, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks.
All the violence and ferocity drained from his face in an instant, replaced by immense, tender relief.
He rushed over, fell to his knees before Rosa once again, and wrapped his arms around her waist, weeping openly.
"It's over, Mama," Luca sobbed, pressing his forehead against her trembling hands.
"He can never hurt you again."
Rosa placed her hands gently on her son’s bruised face, wiping away the blood and tears with her thumbs.
"You did it, my brave boy," she whispered softly.
"Your father is looking down from heaven right now, proud of the man you have become."
Across the foyer, Vanessa let out a weak, agonizing moan, clutching her bleeding shoulder in a pool of red.
Luca slowly rose to his feet, turning his gaze toward his wounded, shivering wife with eyes as cold as absolute zero.
"Dante," Luca called out, his voice returning to its commanding, unyielding tone.
Dante, nursing a dislocated shoulder, stepped down the stairs with a first-aid kit in hand.
"Call the private medical team to patch up Vanessa's shoulder," Luca commanded without an ounce of warmth.
"I don't want her dying from blood loss."
"Death would be far too easy an escape for what she has done to this family."
Vanessa looked up through her tears, her voice barely a whisper.
"Luca... please... I’m sorry... I was so stupid..."
"Save your breath for the judge of your own blood, Vanessa," Luca interrupted coldly.
"Because your father is arriving here in twenty minutes to decide your fate."
He turned toward me, extending his hand with deep, profound respect.
"Claire, thank you for saving my life tonight."
"If you hadn't thrown that vase, I would be lying dead on this floor."
I shook his hand, feeling the immense strength and gratitude in his grip.
"I was only protecting Mrs. Rosa, Mr. Moretti," I replied softly.
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"And by protecting her, you saved this entire family," Luca stated firmly.
"Now, let us clean this house of traitors once and for all."
