Chapter 9 - The Final Stitch
The old tailoring shop was exactly as Evelyn remembered it.
Dusty.
Narrow.
Filled with ghosts.
Gabriel stood behind the counter.
Evelyn's father sat bound.
Vanessa was there.
Richard was there.
The entire history of her family was standing in one room.
Gabriel looked at Evelyn.
"Bring me the ledger."
She placed it on the table.
"You first."
He smiled.
"Still bargaining."
"I'm a seamstress."
"And?"
"We negotiate."
Gabriel laughed.
Matteo stepped beside her.
Gabriel raised a gun.
"One wrong move."
Evelyn looked at her father.
Then at Richard.
"Why?"
Richard broke down.
"I thought if I helped them, they'd protect you."
"You killed my mother."
"I loved her."
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"You loved yourself."
Richard cried.
Gabriel sighed.
"Enough."
He reached for the ledger.
Evelyn let him.
He opened it.
The final page was missing.
His smile disappeared.
"Where is it?"
"I memorized it."
He slapped the table.
"You wouldn't."
"I did."
Gabriel stepped toward her.
Matteo moved.
Evelyn raised her hand.
"No."
She stared at Gabriel.
"You wanted the truth?"
She recited the names.
Bank accounts.
Judges.
Police commanders.
Politicians.
Then one final name.
Gabriel Hawthorne.
She continued.
"Recorded orders."
Gabriel's face changed.
Matteo's men entered through the rear door.
At the same time, federal agents stormed the front.
Gabriel looked at Evelyn.
"You."
She smiled.
"I told you."
A seamstress notices everything.
The evidence had been transmitted before she arrived.
Vanessa had sent it.
Evelyn's father had confirmed it.
Matteo's people had secured the servers.
The entire Hawthorne organization was collapsing.
Gabriel raised his gun.
Matteo tackled him.
The fight was brutal.
But it ended quickly.
Gabriel was arrested.
Richard surrendered.
Vanessa cooperated.
Evelyn's father was freed.
Outside, snow began to fall.
Evelyn stood beside Matteo.
"I thought my whole life was built on lies."
He looked at her.
"Some of it was."
"And the rest?"
"You."
She smiled.
"I don't know what that means."
"It means every lie they told about you was wrong."
He took her hand.
"You weren't weak."
She looked at him.
"You were waiting."
"For what?"
"For the world to see you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
May you like
Then Matteo kissed her.
This time, she kissed him back.
