Chapter 13 - WHEN THE MONSTER PRAYED
Naomi woke to a steady beep.
Hospital.
White ceiling.
Pain.
A lot of pain.
She tried to move.
“Don’t.”
Luca.
He sat beside her bed.
Same black clothes.
Same hard face.
But his eyes were red.
Naomi whispered, “You look terrible.”
His laugh broke in the middle.
“You got shot and you’re insulting me.”
“Priorities.”
He stood.
Then stopped himself from touching her.
Naomi noticed.
“You can hold my hand.”
His eyes met hers.
“You sure?”
“No. But do it anyway.”
He took it.
Carefully.
Like she might break.
“What happened?”
“Bullet passed through. Missed anything major.”
“Dominic?”
“Gone.”
Naomi closed her eyes.
“Damn it.”
“He won’t be gone long.”
“Vivian?”
“In custody.”
“Elena?”
“Dead.”
“Dante?”
“Complaining.”
“So normal.”
Luca almost smiled.
“Mom?”
“Down the hall.”
Naomi opened her eyes.
“Why?”
“She refused to leave until you woke up.”
Naomi swallowed emotion.
“She’s stubborn.”
“You have no idea.”
Later that afternoon, Isabella entered in a wheelchair.
Dante pushed her.
When Isabella saw Naomi awake, she cried.
Naomi cried too.
“You’re not allowed to do that again.”
Isabella hit one low note on her electronic keyboard.
Yes.
Naomi laughed.
“You’re lying.”
High note.
No.
Dante laughed.
Luca watched them.
For once, the room felt like a family instead of a fortress.
Then a federal agent entered.
Special Agent Rachel Torres.
She placed a file on the table.
“We found the real drive.”
Luca looked at Isabella.
His mother smiled.
Torres continued.
“She mailed it to my office three days ago.”
Naomi stared.
“Three days?”
Torres nodded.
“Mrs. Moretti contacted us before the attack.”
Luca looked betrayed.
“You planned all of this?”
Isabella hit low.
Yes.
Dante whispered, “Mom is terrifying.”
Torres opened the file.
“The evidence is enough to arrest dozens of people.”
“Dominic?” Naomi asked.
Torres’s expression tightened.
“He has money, passports, safe houses.”
Luca stood.
“I’ll find him.”
“No,” Torres said. “You’ll let us.”
Luca gave her a look.
Torres didn’t care.
“Mr. Moretti, if you interfere, I arrest you too.”
Dante smiled.
“I like her.”
Luca ignored him.
Torres turned to Naomi.
“There’s something else.”
She handed her a sealed envelope.
Naomi looked at the handwriting.
Her entire body froze.
“That’s my father’s writing.”
Torres nodded.
“It was found with Isabella’s evidence.”
Naomi opened it.
Inside were only four words.
May you like
FOR NAOMI, WHEN SHE’S READY.
Her hands began to shake.
