Chapter 11 - JAVIER’S LAST DEAL
Everyone reached for a weapon.
The detectives reached faster.
“Hands!”
Luca’s guards froze.
Dante stood between Leo and the door.
One detective, a woman in her forties named Rachel Cole, kept her pistol lowered but ready.
“Nobody needs to die.”
Javier laughed weakly.
“Little late for that.”
Dante stared at him.
“You come near my son, I’ll finish what I started.”
Javier looked at Leo.
Shame crossed his face.
“I know.”
Detective Cole said, “Mr. Romano, Javier contacted us.”
Dante almost laughed.
“Of course he did.”
“He offered evidence against Victor Hale.”
“And me.”
Javier answered.
“Yes.”
Marco stood.
“You rat.”
Javier looked at him.
“You’re bleeding because of me. Call me whatever you want.”
Dante stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Javier’s knees almost gave out.
Cole caught him.
“Victor’s people found him near the rail yard.”
Javier opened his jacket.
A deep cut crossed his side.
“They missed anything important.”
“Shame,” Dante said.
Leo spoke from behind him.
“Dad.”
Dante stopped.
Leo walked forward.
Javier looked terrified of the child.
That bothered Dante.
“Why’d you grab me?” Leo asked.
Javier looked away.
“Leo—”
“Why?”
Javier swallowed.
“Victor told me to kill you.”
The room became still.
Leo’s face went pale.
“But I didn’t.”
“You hit me.”
“I know.”
“You put a gun at my head.”
“I know.”
“You killed my mom.”
Javier’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Dante started forward.
Leo lifted his hand.
“Dad.”
Dante stopped.
His son looked at Javier.
“Why didn’t you kill me?”
Javier sat heavily.
“Because you looked at me like she did.”
Leo frowned.
“Who?”
“Your mom.”
Javier wiped blood from his mouth.
“She was trapped in that car. Bleeding. Scared. And she still looked me right in the eye.”
His voice broke.
“She said, ‘Leo thinks you’re a good man.’”
Dante stared.
Javier continued.
“I spent two years trying not to hear that sentence.”
Leo’s eyes watered.
Javier looked down.
“When Victor told me to kill you, I couldn’t.”
“You kidnapped me.”
“I thought if I got the recorder, I could run.”
“That’s stupid.”
A short laugh escaped Marco.
Javier nodded.
“Yeah. It was.”
Detective Cole lowered her weapon.
“We need what he has.”
Javier reached slowly inside his coat.
Dante’s gun rose.
“Easy.”
Javier pulled out a flash drive.
“Elena’s copies.”
Dante stared at it.
“Everything?”
“Everything.”
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Salvatore?”
“Yes.”
“Me?”
Javier met his eyes.
“Yes.”
Marco muttered, “Damn.”
Javier held the drive toward Detective Cole.
“I want a deal.”
She said, “You’re not getting immunity for murder.”
“I know.”
Dante stepped closer.
“You think prison keeps you safe from me?”
Javier smiled sadly.
“No.”
Dante stared at him.
Then Javier looked toward Leo.
“I’m not asking to be safe.”
A laser dot appeared on Javier’s chest.
Leo saw it first.
“DOWN!”
The window exploded.
Javier jerked backward.
Detective Cole fired toward the roof across the street.
Marco grabbed Leo.
Dante dragged Javier behind the kitchen counter.
Blood poured from Javier’s chest.
“Stay with me.”
Javier laughed weakly.
“You telling me to live?”
“I want answers.”
“Sounds more like you.”
Dante pressed a towel against the wound.
“Who’s shooting?”
“Victor.”
“Where is he?”
Javier coughed.
“Pier nineteen.”
“What’s there?”
“His records.”
Dante leaned closer.
“Why tell me?”
Javier’s eyes found Leo.
“Because somebody should finally keep that kid alive.”
His hand closed around Dante’s wrist.
“And Dante?”
“What?”
“Elena never blamed you.”
Dante froze.
Javier smiled once.
Then his hand fell.
Leo whispered, “Is he dead?”
Dante stared at the man who had been his friend, his betrayer, his wife’s killer.
“Yes.”
Detective Cole checked Javier’s pulse.
Then she looked at Dante.
“Pier nineteen?”
Dante stood.
Marco knew that expression.
“No.”
Dante picked up his gun.
“Stay with Leo.”
“Dante.”
“I’m ending it.”
Detective Cole stepped into his path.
“You go after Hale with a weapon, I arrest you.”
Dante looked at her.
“You can arrest me tonight.”
Then he walked past.
Leo shouted.
“Dad!”
Dante stopped.
“Don’t become him.”
Dante looked back.
Leo’s eyes were full of fear.
Not fear of Victor.
Fear of his father.
That hurt more than any bullet.
Dante slowly looked at the gun in his hand.
Then he handed it to Detective Cole.
“Fine.”
May you like
He grabbed his coat.
“We do it your way.”
