Chapter 9 - AUNT ROSA'S LAST SECRET
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Victoria called at 1:18 a.m.
She wanted Alessandro alone.
No police.
No Marcus.
No Charles Hale.
And no Elena.
Naturally, Elena went.
“This is becoming a terrible habit,” Alessandro told her as they drove toward an abandoned church in Queens.
“You falling in love with stubborn women?”
“You volunteering for situations involving armed psychopaths.”
Elena stared ahead.
“You said it.”
He glanced at her.
“What?”
“Falling in love.”
Alessandro’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“I did.”
“You’ve never said that before.”
“No.”
“Interesting timing.”
“I may be dead in an hour.”
“That is not romantic.”
“I’m out of practice.”
Despite the fear crushing her chest, Elena smiled.
“Do you?”
Alessandro looked at her.
“Do I what?”
“Love me.”
He returned his eyes to the road.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No dramatic pause.
Just truth.
Elena’s eyes burned.
“I wish you hadn’t said that in a car heading toward a hostage situation.”
“You asked.”
“I know.”
“What about you?”
“This is not the time.”
“Coward.”
She stared at him.
“Did Alessandro Moretti just call me a coward?”
“I’m trying different motivational techniques.”
She laughed.
Then whispered, “Yes.”
He looked over.
“I love you too.”
The car drifted half a foot toward the shoulder.
“Elena.”
“Watch the road.”
“You can’t say that and tell me to watch the road.”
“I just did.”
For three seconds, they were not surrounded by death and betrayal.
They were simply two people who had wasted too much time.
Then Alessandro’s phone buzzed.
Victoria.
The church doors stood open.
Inside, candles burned around a neglected altar.
Rosa sat in the front pew.
Untied.
Victoria stood behind her holding a gun.
“Aunt Rosa,” Alessandro said.
Rosa rolled her eyes.
“Took you long enough.”
Victoria pressed the weapon closer.
“Quiet.”
Rosa looked offended.
“I have survived three Moretti brothers, two husbands and breast cancer. You are not going to frighten me with bad manners and a small pistol.”
Elena almost laughed.
Victoria looked exhausted.
Her crimson engagement dress was gone.
She wore black pants and a coat.
The giant diamond remained on her finger.
Alessandro noticed.
“You kept the ring.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
“I earned it.”
“No. You inherited a prop.”
“You humiliated me.”
“You conspired to kill my brother.”
“He was going to ruin everything.”
The words echoed.
Confirmation.
Alessandro’s face became still.
“You ordered it.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You think I wanted Matteo dead? I wanted him scared.”
“Charles said otherwise.”
“My father would sell me to save himself.”
Rosa spoke calmly.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Everyone looked at her.
Victoria stiffened.
Rosa continued.
“Victoria arranged for Matteo’s car to be stopped. Victor changed the plan.”
Alessandro stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because Matteo called me from the road.”
“You never told me.”
“He said Victoria’s name.”
“Then why protect her?”
“I wasn’t protecting Victoria.”
Rosa’s voice softened.
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“From what you would become if you knew.”
Alessandro stepped backward.
“That wasn’t your choice.”
“No.”
Tears filled Rosa’s eyes.
“And I have regretted it every day.”
Victoria’s hand shook.
“Enough.”
Elena watched the weapon.
Victoria was unraveling.
That made her more dangerous.
Rosa continued anyway.
“Victor sent the shooters. Matteo survived the first attack.”
Alessandro stopped breathing.
“What?”
“He crawled from the car.”
Victoria whispered, “Don’t.”
Rosa looked at Alessandro.
“Someone reached him before Marcus did.”
“Who?”
Rosa closed her eyes.
“Charles.”
Alessandro turned toward Victoria.
She shook her head.
“My father told me Matteo was already dead.”
Rosa nodded.
“He lied.”
The story shifted again.
Charles Hale had killed Matteo personally to protect the financial conspiracy.
Victor had arranged the ambush.
Victoria had initiated the intimidation.
All three carried guilt.
Different degrees.
Same grave.
Victoria began crying.
“I didn’t know.”
Alessandro’s voice was empty.
“You started it.”
“Yes.”
“You gave Victor Matteo’s route.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he might be hurt.”
“Yes.”
Rosa reached for Victoria’s hand.
“Put the gun down.”
Victoria pulled away.
“No.”
“You don’t want another death.”
“You don’t know what I want.”
“I know exactly what you want.”
Rosa looked at the diamond.
“You wanted to be chosen.”
Victoria flinched.
The words found the wound.
“All your life, your father valued power. Victor valued secrecy. Alessandro valued revenge. You kept trying to make powerful men prove you mattered.”
Victoria’s tears fell harder.
“And they never did.”
Elena understood her then.
Not forgave.
Understood.
Victoria had spent her life in rooms where affection was transactional.
She had simply become crueler than Elena had.
“You don’t have to become the worst thing they taught you,” Elena said.
Victoria looked at her.
“You think you’re better than me?”
“No.”
“You have him.”
“That isn’t why.”
“He loves you.”
Elena said nothing.
Victoria laughed through tears.
“Of course he does. The maid with the tragic life and good heart.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Give Rosa the gun.”
Alessandro whispered, “Elena.”
She ignored him.
Victoria aimed at her.
“You really aren’t afraid of me?”
“I am.”
That answer surprised Victoria.
Elena continued.
“I’m terrified. Courage isn’t pretending you aren’t.”
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Victoria’s arm lowered.
Rosa slowly took the weapon.
Alessandro exhaled.
It should have ended there.
Instead, a gunshot exploded from the balcony.
Victoria jerked.
Elena screamed.
Alessandro pulled her down.
Another shot shattered a candle stand.
Men rushed the church.
Marcus’s people.
Alessandro’s people.
Chaos.
Victoria collapsed beside the pew.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
Not fatal.
A sniper had tried to silence her.
Alessandro looked toward the balcony.
Empty.
On the floor lay a shell casing.
Marcus arrived minutes later.
He picked it up.
“Military grade.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
Charles Hale owned the largest private security contractor in the Northeast.
Victoria looked up weakly.
“My father.”
Alessandro knelt.
“He tried to kill you.”
She laughed painfully.
“He always said weakness was expensive.”
For the first time, Victoria looked at Elena without contempt.
“Don’t let him win.”
Then she lost consciousness.
Alessandro stood.
“What does Charles want now?” Elena asked.
He looked toward the dark balcony.
“To erase every witness.”
Rosa shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
“He wants something else.”
“What?”
Rosa looked at Alessandro.
“The Moretti company.”
Alessandro frowned.
“He can’t take it.”
“He can if you’re convicted.”
“For what?”
May you like
Rosa closed her eyes.
“Matteo’s murder.”
