Chapter 11 - THE TRAP
Luca laughed when Marco finished.
Not because anything was funny.
Because Sal had become predictable.
“Come alone.”
Marco shook his head.
“He thinks you’re still twenty-six.”
“No.”
Luca looked toward the rehabilitation room.
“He thinks I’m still trapped.”
The next morning, Luca called Sal.
“I’ll meet.”
Sal paused.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Canal Street.”
“Eight tonight.”
“Done.”
Elena heard the call.
“You’re not going alone.”
“Obviously.”
“You just said—”
“I lied.”
She stared at him.
“You promised honesty.”
“To you and Maya.”
“I made no such arrangement with Sal.”
Elena almost smiled.
Then her expression became serious.
“What’s the plan?”
“We let him believe he’s winning.”
“Why?”
“Because Sal is careful when he feels threatened.”
“He’s careless when he feels superior.”
Marco placed hidden cameras throughout the warehouse.
Police detectives working the threat case positioned themselves nearby.
Rachel Kim contacted federal investigators.
Everything changed once Luca agreed to cooperate.
Some people in his organization called him a traitor.
Others quietly called asking how to leave.
Luca gave every legitimate employee a path out.
By late afternoon, three captains had agreed to testify against Sal’s illegal operations.
The empire was collapsing.
And Luca had never felt lighter.
At six, Dr. Pierce arrived.
“You requested a session?”
“Yes.”
“You have a meeting tonight.”
“Yes.”
“You should rest.”
Luca gripped the parallel bars.
“I need to know something.”
“What?”
“How far I can walk.”
Dr. Pierce stared at him.
“No.”
“Doctor.”
“No.”
“I’m paying you.”
“You’re paying me to keep you from doing stupid things.”
“I’m very disappointed in the service.”
Maya walked in.
“What’s happening?”
“Your father wants to injure himself for dramatic effect.”
Maya looked at Luca.
“That sounds like you.”
Luca sighed.
Eventually, they compromised.
Three assisted steps.
No more.
Luca stood.
His legs trembled.
He moved his right foot.
Then left.
One.
Two.
Three.
He collapsed into the chair.
Maya applauded.
Luca breathed hard.
“You see?”
Dr. Pierce crossed his arms.
“I see a stubborn man with terrible judgment.”
“Progress.”
Maya crouched in front of Luca.
“Do you have to go tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because this needs to end.”
“You don’t have to prove you’re stronger than him.”
Luca looked at her.
“I know.”
She touched his hand.
“Then prove you’re my dad.”
“How?”
“Come home.”
Luca looked at his daughter.
Something inside him shifted.
For most of his life, coming home had never been the victory.
Winning was.
Surviving was.
Being feared was.
Now a child had reduced everything to two words.
Come home.
Luca squeezed her hand.
“I will.”
At 7:52 p.m., he entered the Canal Street warehouse.
Alone.
At least that was what Sal believed.
The old man stood in the center of the empty floor.
“Luca.”
“Sal.”
Sal looked at the wheelchair.
Then smiled.
“You should have listened twelve years ago.”
May you like
Luca’s blood went cold.
Sal had just said the one thing Luca needed him to say.
