Chapter 6 - The Night the Mafia King Lost His Empire
The warehouse was heavily guarded.
But Adrian had spent years learning the network.
They entered through an underground tunnel.
Renata stayed close to Lorenzo.
She carried the ledger.
At the center of the warehouse stood Matteo Ferrer.
Older now.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
He smiled when he saw Renata.
"You look like your father."
She stopped.
"You killed him."
"I didn't."
"You destroyed him."
"Perhaps."
Lorenzo stepped forward.
"Where is Lucia?"
Matteo laughed.
"Your wife is asking about my sister?"
Renata froze.
Wife?
Lorenzo looked equally shocked.
Matteo smiled.
"You think the document your fathers created was only a business agreement?"
He gestured toward a table.
A marriage certificate.
Signed.
Dated.
Renata's stomach dropped.
"It was never filed."
Matteo nodded.
"Because your father died before it happened."
Lorenzo looked at Renata.
"We don't have to accept this."
Matteo smiled.
"That's the difference between you and your fathers."
He turned.
"They accepted duty."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"I accept choice."
Matteo laughed.
"Choice is a luxury."
"No."
Lorenzo stepped closer.
"Choice is the reason you're losing."
Matteo's men moved.
Adrian appeared behind them with armed police.
Matteo's smile vanished.
"You betrayed me."
Adrian replied,
"I stopped being afraid."
Police stormed the warehouse.
Men surrendered.
Documents were seized.
The empire collapsed within hours.
But Matteo escaped.
He grabbed Renata and pulled her into a side corridor.
Lorenzo followed.
"Let her go."
Matteo held a gun to Renata's side.
"You want the ledger."
"No."
Lorenzo's voice was calm.
"I want her."
Matteo laughed.
"You don't understand."
"I do."
"You'll give up everything for her."
"Yes."
Matteo stared.
"You would give up your empire?"
"Already did."
"You'd give up the family name?"
"Yes."
"Your money?"
"All of it."
"For her?"
Lorenzo looked at Renata.
"No."
He looked back.
"Because I don't want her to spend the rest of her life believing love is another kind of prison."
Matteo hesitated.
Renata elbowed him.
Lorenzo moved.
The gun fell.
Police rushed in.
Matteo was arrested.
But there was still one missing person.
Lucia.
They found her the next day.
She was in a safe house outside Milan.
Renata ran to her.
Lucia cried.
"I'm sorry."
Renata hugged her.
"I know."
"I wanted to tell you."
"I know."
"I should have."
"I know."
Lucia looked at Lorenzo.
Then smiled.
"Your father would have liked him."
Renata laughed through tears.
Later that night, Lorenzo sat beside her.
"The marriage certificate."
She looked at him.
"It means nothing."
"I know."
"You don't want me because of it."
"No."
"Good."
He smiled.
"I want you because you walked into an elevator with a briefcase and somehow walked into my life."
She laughed.
"That line is terrible."
"I'm better with contracts."
She kissed him.
"Then don't draft this."
"What?"
"Us."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I want it unwritten."
May you like
He took her hand.
"Done."
