Chapter 14 - THE FALL OF SALVATORE MORETTI
I entered the mansion alone.
At least, that's what Salvatore believed.
Dante had placed a tiny microphone beneath my collar.
Matteo and his men entered through the rear.
Detective Ellis had finally assembled honest federal agents three miles away.
All we needed was Salvatore talking.
The old man waited in the library.
My father sat tied beside the fireplace.
"Claire."
"I'm here, Dad."
Salvatore smiled.
"You have courage."
"I had a terrible teacher."
His smile widened.
"You mean Nolan?"
"I mean men like you."
He gestured toward a laptop.
"Your finger."
"No."
His gun moved toward my father.
"Claire."
My father shook his head.
"Don't."
Salvatore pulled the trigger.
The bullet struck the floor beside my father's foot.
I jumped.
"Next one goes higher."
I approached the laptop.
"Why kill my mother?"
Salvatore's expression barely changed.
"She wouldn't cooperate."
My heart pounded.
"Did you order it?"
"Yes."
Dante was hearing everything.
So was Ellis.
"And my father's accident?"
"Yes."
"Matteo's bombing?"
Salvatore smiled.
"Yes."
My hands shook with rage.
"You tried to kill your own son."
"He betrayed me."
"Because he didn't want to be you."
For the first time, Salvatore's smile disappeared.
"Finger."
I placed my index finger against the scanner.
The computer beeped.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Thousands of records appeared.
Salvatore's face lit up.
He turned away for one second.
That was enough.
My father kicked the table.
The laptop flew.
I grabbed Salvatore's wrist.
The gun fired.
A window shattered.
He hit me across the face.
I fell.
Then Dante crashed through the doorway.
"Father!"
Salvatore fired.
Dante rolled behind a sofa.
Matteo entered from the opposite side.
Salvatore froze.
Both sons had guns on him.
"Matteo."
"Hello, Dad."
Salvatore laughed.
"You two think you're different from me?"
Dante stood.
"Yes."
"You've killed men."
"Yes."
"You've threatened families."
Dante's face tightened.
"Yes."
"You built your empire with fear."
Dante lowered his gun slightly.
"Yes."
Salvatore smiled.
"Then you're me."
Dante looked toward me.
Then at my bruised cheek.
Then back at his father.
"No."
He placed his gun on the floor.
"Because I can choose to stop."
Salvatore immediately aimed at him.
I screamed.
A shot exploded.
Salvatore jerked.
The gun dropped.
Detective Ellis stood in the doorway.
"Federal agent! Don't move!"
Salvatore looked down.
Blood spread across his leg.
He collapsed.
The room filled with agents.
My father was freed.
Matteo raised his hands.
Dante did the same.
Ellis cuffed Salvatore.
For the first time, the old man looked afraid.
As they dragged him past Dante, Salvatore whispered:
"You'll never escape my name."
Dante stared at him.
"Watch me."
Outside, dawn broke over the lake.
I thought it was finally over.
Then Ellis approached me.
"Claire."
"What?"
"We have a problem."
My stomach sank.
"What kind?"
"The evidence clears Dante of Salvatore's laundering."
I looked at Dante.
"That's good."
Ellis nodded.
"But it doesn't clear him of everything else he's done."
Dante's face gave away nothing.
I understood.
The mafia didn't disappear because the worse villain had been arrested.
Dante Moretti was still Dante Moretti.
Ellis turned toward him.
"I'm taking you in."
My heart stopped.
May you like
Dante simply extended his hands.
And let the detective cuff him.
