Chapter 11 - THE MAN I ALMOST MARRIED
I looked at Derek.
“You chose him.”
“I chose survival.”
“You always do.”
His jaw tightened.
“You think Luca is better?”
“Yes.”
The answer came easily.
That hurt Derek more than I expected.
Matteo held out his hand.
“The trust.”
Luca didn’t move.
Matteo pressed his gun harder against my mother’s side.
“Now.”
I looked at Luca.
He shook his head slightly.
My mother whispered, “Don’t.”
I stared at her.
“I’m not losing you again.”
She smiled sadly.
“You never did.”
Matteo’s patience snapped.
“Enough.”
I grabbed the document from the box.
Luca looked at me.
“Emma.”
“I’m sorry.”
I held it toward Matteo.
He stepped closer.
Then I ripped it in half.
Everyone froze.
I ripped it again.
Matteo’s face twisted.
“You stupid—”
My mother dropped to the floor.
Luca fired.
The bullet struck Derek’s gun.
He screamed and dropped it.
Matteo fired back.
We dove behind the couch.
Gunshots exploded through the apartment.
Glass shattered.
I crawled toward my mother.
“Move!”
Luca slammed Matteo into the wall.
They fought brutally.
No elegance.
No restraint.
Brothers who had spent eighteen years hating each other.
Derek stared at the torn papers on the floor.
Then he ran for them.
I kicked them away.
He grabbed my ankle.
“You ruined everything!”
I kicked him in the face.
“For once, Derek, that was the point.”
He lunged.
My mother smashed the music box over his head.
Derek collapsed.
I stared at her.
She blinked.
“I’ve wanted to do that for months.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
Then a shot rang out.
Luca staggered.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Luca!”
Matteo smiled.
Then sirens screamed outside.
Police.
Matteo looked toward the window.
His face changed.
“You called them?”
My mother stood.
“No.”
I realized who had.
Derek.
His phone lay on the floor.
Emergency call active.
Matteo stared at his son.
“You betrayed me.”
Derek looked terrified.
“I didn’t mean—”
Matteo raised his gun toward him.
May you like
Luca fired first.
Matteo fell.
