Chapter 13 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
Aleandro looked up.
“Marco.”
Elena froze.
“No.”
Marco’s face was wet with rain and sweat.
His hand trembled.
Aleandro didn’t reach for his weapon.
“Why?”
Marco swallowed.
“My father.”
“What about him?”
“Carlo owned him.”
Aleandro stared.
“All these years?”
“All these years.”
“You took a bullet for me.”
“I was supposed to.”
“You protected me.”
“I was supposed to.”
“You were my brother.”
Marco’s expression cracked.
“That was the problem.”
Elena slowly moved Sofia behind a steel support.
Marco noticed.
“Don’t.”
She stopped.
“What does Carlo have on you?”
“He doesn’t have anything anymore.”
“Then put the gun down.”
Marco laughed bitterly.
“You think it’s that easy?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know this life.”
“No. And from what I’ve seen, that’s my greatest accomplishment.”
Aleandro almost smiled.
Marco’s eyes filled.
“My father made me promise I’d protect Carlo’s secret.”
“Your father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then the promise died with him.”
Marco shook his head.
“No.”
Aleandro slowly stood despite the blood at his side.
Marco raised the gun higher.
“Stay down.”
“No.”
“Aleandro.”
“If you’re going to shoot me, look at me.”
“Don’t.”
“Look at me.”
Marco did.
Aleandro stepped closer.
“You sat beside my mother at her funeral.”
Marco’s hand trembled.
“You taught me how to shoot,” Aleandro continued.
“You taught me.”
“You held my head together when Isabella disappeared.”
“Stop.”
“You slept outside my hospital room after the Milano hit.”
“Stop.”
“You carried Sofia out of that greenhouse.”
Marco’s face twisted.
“Stop!”
Aleandro stood directly in front of the gun.
“So decide which man you are.”
Silence.
Then Marco lowered the weapon.
A gunshot cracked.
Marco jerked.
Blood burst from his chest.
Elena screamed.
Behind him, Carlo was still alive.
Barely.
His pistol smoked.
Marco dropped.
Aleandro caught him.
“No. No, stay with me.”
Marco struggled to breathe.
Carlo tried to raise the gun again.
Sofia picked up the torn stuffed rabbit lying near the conveyor.
She threw it at Carlo’s face.
The ridiculous little toy hit him directly in the eyes.
Carlo flinched.
Elena lunged for his gun.
They struggled.
Carlo grabbed her throat.
“You’re exactly like your mother.”
Elena drove her knee into him.
“And that’s why you lose.”
She ripped the gun free.
Aleandro shouted.
“Elena!”
Carlo reached for a knife.
Elena fired.
Once.
Carlo collapsed.
Silence swallowed the cannery.
Elena stared at the weapon in her hand.
Then dropped it.
Sofia ran to her.
Elena grabbed her.
Aleandro knelt beside Marco.
Blood covered both men.
Marco looked up at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Aleandro’s face broke.
“For what?”
“For lying.”
“You idiot.”
A weak smile.
“You always were… dramatic.”
“Save your breath.”
“You still punch wrong.”
Aleandro laughed through tears.
Marco coughed.
Then looked toward Sofia.
“Fix… the rabbit.”
Aleandro nodded.
“I will.”
Marco exhaled.
He didn’t inhale again.
For several seconds, Aleandro stayed completely still.
Then Raffaele groaned nearby.
Elena looked over.
He was alive.
Barely.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Raffaele smiled weakly.
“You called cops?”
Aleandro shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
Raffaele’s smile vanished.
“Then who did?”
