Chapter 8 - The Uncle Who Stole Everything
Anthony Moretti looked at Amelia the way a man looks at a ghost.
For the first time since he'd entered the inn, the confident smile disappeared from his face.
"Elena," he whispered.
Amelia stood straighter.
"My name is Amelia."
Anthony recovered quickly.
He smiled.
"Of course."
Vincent stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?"
Anthony spread his hands.
"I heard there was trouble. I came to help."
I stared at him.
"Funny. Trouble seems to follow you."
His eyes moved toward me.
"And you must be Daisy Bennett."
I lifted my chin.
"The woman you're trying to have killed?"
Vincent's body went rigid.
Anthony laughed.
"My dear girl, you've been watching too many movies."
"Then why did your men shoot at my grandmother's kitchen?"
Anthony's smile vanished.
Vincent moved slightly closer to me.
"Answer her."
Anthony looked at his nephew.
"You're letting a country waitress question me?"
I felt heat rise in my cheeks.
Before I could respond, Vincent spoke.
"She's not a waitress."
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
Vincent's voice was dangerously calm.
"She's the woman I intend to marry."
My heart stopped.
I turned toward him.
"Excuse me?"
Anthony stared.
Then laughed.
"You're joking."
Vincent didn't smile.
"No."
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Vincent."
He looked at me briefly.
"Trust me."
I wanted to say that this was an incredibly inappropriate time to announce an engagement I hadn't agreed to.
But Anthony's expression had changed.
He was no longer amused.
He was calculating.
"Interesting," he said softly.
"Very interesting."
Vincent looked toward the men beside him.
"Tell your people to lower their weapons."
Anthony smiled.
"Or what?"
Vincent took one step forward.
"Or you and I are going to have a very unpleasant conversation."
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Anthony nodded.
His men lowered their guns.
Vincent's security team appeared at both entrances.
The balance of power shifted.
Anthony noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"You planned this."
Vincent didn't answer.
Anthony looked around.
"How much do you know?"
Amelia stepped forward.
"Enough."
Her voice trembled, but she didn't back down.
"You took me from my family."
Anthony's expression hardened.
"Your father was weak."
Vincent's jaw tightened.
"Careful."
Anthony ignored him.
"He wanted to make the Moretti organization legitimate. Sell the illegal operations. Cut ties with men who'd built the empire."
Vincent stared.
"He wanted to protect us."
"He wanted to destroy everything."
Amelia shook her head.
"He wanted his children to have a future."
Anthony laughed bitterly.
"And look where that got him."
The words hung in the air.
Vincent's expression changed.
"What did you just say?"
Anthony hesitated.
Then smiled.
"Nothing."
Vincent stepped closer.
"My father died of heart failure."
Anthony shrugged.
"That's what the doctors said."
Amelia went pale.
"Anthony."
He looked at her.
She whispered, "What did you do?"
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Anthony laughed.
"Your father was dying anyway."
Vincent's face became terrifyingly still.
I stepped toward him.
"Vincent."
He didn't move.
Anthony continued.
"He had become sentimental. Weak. He wanted to hand over records that would have destroyed half the organization."
Vincent's voice was barely audible.
"You killed him?"
Anthony looked away.
"Don't be dramatic."
Amelia covered her mouth.
Vincent took another step.
His fists clenched.
I caught his arm.
"Vincent."
He looked down at me.
His eyes were filled with rage.
I shook my head.
"Not like this."
For a terrifying second, I thought he wouldn't listen.
Then he closed his eyes.
He took one slow breath.
And stepped back.
Anthony smiled.
"Look at that. The little country girl has trained you."
Vincent's eyes opened.
"No."
His voice was cold.
"She's reminding me what kind of man I still have a chance to become."
Anthony's smile disappeared.
Then Marco spoke from the doorway.
"Boss. We have the evidence secured."
Anthony turned sharply.
"What evidence?"
Vincent looked at him.
"Everything."
Marco held up the laptop.
"Copies have already been sent to an independent federal investigative team, along with the original storage media and its chain-of-custody documentation."
Anthony's face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Vincent continued.
"Your bank records. Your shell companies. The payments to Whitcomb. The hospital records. And the recording that proves you ordered Robert Bennett's murder."
Anthony stared.
"You're bluffing."
Grandma stepped forward.
"No, he's not."
Her voice shook with anger.
"My husband spent his last years making sure the truth would come out."
Anthony looked at her with hatred.
"Your husband should have minded his own business."
Grandma raised her chin.
"He minded his conscience."
I felt tears fill my eyes.
Vincent looked toward Marco.
"Take Anthony outside."
Anthony's expression twisted.
"You think you can do this to me?"
Vincent didn't answer.
Two guards stepped forward.
Anthony suddenly reached beneath his coat.
Everything happened at once.
Vincent shoved me behind him.
Marco shouted.
A gunshot cracked through the room.
I screamed.
Vincent staggered.
For one horrifying moment, the world stopped.
Then he fell to one knee.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
"Vincent!"
I dropped beside him.
Anthony tried to run.
Marco tackled him before he reached the porch.
Amelia rushed forward.
"Move!"
She pressed her hands against Vincent's wound.
I stared at the blood.
"No. No, no, no."
Vincent looked at me.
His face was pale.
"Daisy."
I grabbed his hand.
"Don't you dare."
He gave a weak smile.
"That's not very specific."
"Don't you dare die."
His eyes softened.
"Bossy little thing."
Tears streamed down my face.
"Vincent, please."
Amelia looked at Marco.
"Call an ambulance. Now!"
She pressed harder against the wound.
"It's his shoulder. The bullet passed through, but he's losing blood."
I held his face.
"Stay with me."
He looked into my eyes.
Then whispered, "You never answered my question."
I shook my head.
"What question?"
His smile was faint.
"Will you marry me?"
I sobbed.
"You're unbelievable."
"That's not an answer."
I pressed my forehead against his.
"Yes."
His eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"Yes, you ridiculous man. I'll marry you."
He smiled.
May you like
Then his eyes closed.
And the most powerful man I'd ever met went completely still in my arms.
