Chapter 13 - THREE STEPS
Emergency lights flashed red.
Luca heard feet moving.
Someone grabbed the back of his wheelchair.
He twisted.
Sal.
The old man had circled behind him in the darkness.
Sal jammed something hard against Luca’s shoulder.
A gun.
“Tell them to back away.”
Luca remained still.
“Sal.”
“Tell them.”
Marco appeared ten feet away.
Weapon raised.
“Let him go.”
Sal dragged Luca backward.
“Drop it.”
Marco did not move.
Sal pressed the gun harder.
“You think they’ll save you?”
Luca looked at him.
“You made one mistake.”
Sal laughed.
“One?”
“You never learned anything new about me.”
Sal frowned.
Then Luca locked the wheelchair brakes.
Sal pulled.
The chair stopped.
For half a second, Sal’s balance shifted.
That was enough.
Luca pushed himself upward.
Pain tore through both legs.
His knees shook.
But he stood.
Sal stared at him.
“What…”
Luca took one step.
Sal backed away.
A second step.
Sal’s face went completely pale.
“No.”
Luca took a third.
His leg nearly collapsed.
Marco moved.
He knocked the gun from Sal’s hand.
Detectives rushed forward.
Sal hit the concrete floor.
Luca fell back into the wheelchair.
His entire body shook.
Marco crouched beside him.
“You okay?”
Luca laughed once.
“Ask me tomorrow.”
Sal was handcuffed.
He stared at Luca from the floor.
“You walked.”
“Three steps.”
Sal’s face twisted.
“I made you.”
“No.”
Luca looked at him.
“You delayed me.”
Sal said nothing.
“They’re different things.”
Outside the warehouse, Luca called Elena.
She answered before the first ring finished.
“Luca?”
“I’m okay.”
Silence.
Then a sharp breath.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Sal is in custody.”
Another silence.
“Maya?”
“Asleep.”
“She tried to stay awake.”
Luca smiled.
“Of course she did.”
Elena’s voice softened.
“She made me promise to wake her when you got home.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“When I get home.”
Elena caught the wording.
“You’re coming back now?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The ride took twenty-seven minutes.
When Luca entered the house, Maya was sitting on the staircase in pajamas.
Elena stood behind her.
“I thought you said she was asleep.”
“She lied.”
Maya ran down the stairs.
Luca opened his arms.
She crashed into him.
“You came home.”
“I told you I would.”
Maya hugged him tighter.
Then she pulled back.
“Mom said Marco called.”
“He said you stood up.”
Luca looked at Marco.
Marco looked away.
Traitor.
Maya’s eyes widened.
“You stood?”
“Yes.”
“How many steps?”
“Three.”
She stared at him.
Then smiled.
“Your legs are waking up.”
Luca felt his throat close.
“Yes.”
“They are.”
Maya climbed onto the arm of the chair.
Elena watched them.
For the first time since Luca learned the truth, the house felt quiet.
Not empty.
Quiet.
There was a difference.
Then Rachel Kim called.
Luca answered.
Her words changed the night again.
“The federal team wants to meet tomorrow.”
“About Sal?”
“About you.”
Luca looked at Maya.
May you like
Rachel continued.
“If you’re really doing this, Luca, honesty is about to cost you.”
