Chapter 7 - THE LAST HUNTMatteo disappeared for six weeks.
No phone.
No bank accounts.
No witnesses.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived.
A photograph.
Clara standing outside their home.
Taken that morning.
Alessandro's blood ran cold.
Matteo was still watching them.
The message contained only four words:
YOU CAN'T LEAVE FAMILY.
Alessandro immediately moved Clara to a secure location.
But Clara refused to hide.
“I am not living in fear.”
“I need you alive.”
“So do I.”
She took his hand.
“We finish this together.”
They traced the photograph to a private security company.
The company had been hired by someone using an old Moretti account.
An account only Matteo knew.
The trail led back to New York.
Specifically—
Il Cielo.
The restaurant where everything had begun.
Alessandro returned there.
He stood beneath the security camera.
The same camera that had recorded the poisoning.
The same place where one frame had exposed Victoria.
He looked at the screen.
And suddenly understood.
Matteo wasn't coming for Clara.
He was coming for the evidence.
The original security footage.
If Matteo destroyed it, he could eliminate the final proof connecting him to the poisoning.
Alessandro waited.
At midnight, the lights went out.
A man entered the restaurant.
Matteo.
Alessandro stepped from the shadows.
“Looking for this?”
He held the original recording.
Matteo smiled.
“You always were your mother's son.”
Alessandro stared.
“My mother knew?”
“She knew everything.”
“And you killed her?”
Matteo's expression changed.
“She chose against me.”
Alessandro's hands tightened.
“You destroyed everyone who loved you.”
Matteo raised his gun.
“You could have ruled beside me.”
“I don't want your throne.”
“You are a Moretti.”
Alessandro shook his head.
“No.”
He stepped forward.
“I am Alessandro.”
Security lights turned on.
Police surrounded the building.
Matteo looked around.
Alessandro had planned everything.
The recording had already been copied.
The evidence had already been delivered.
Matteo lowered his gun.
For the first time, the powerful old man looked small.
He was arrested.
This time, there would be no escape.
Alessandro watched as police took his father away.
Clara walked toward him.
“It is over.”
Alessandro nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked toward the restaurant.
The table was still there.
The same table.
The same place where a homeless girl had shouted a warning that changed everything.
May you like
He smiled.
“Now we can finally live.”
