Chapter 8 - The Woman He Tried to Push Away Became the Only Witness Who Could Save HimSix months later, Moretti Holdings had changed.
The illegal divisions were gone.
Several criminal associates were arrested.
Matteo was still missing.
Vincent had handed over enough evidence to federal investigators to protect his legitimate businesses.
For the first time in decades, the Moretti name appeared in newspapers without the word mafia directly beside it.
Hannah became director of compliance.
Permanent.
Her salary made her cry.
Her office made her laugh.
She kept the first printer-paper request she had ever written and framed it.
Vincent mocked her for it.
She told him it was symbolic.
He told her she was ridiculous.
She told him she loved him.
He stopped arguing.
Then one evening, Matteo returned.
Not physically.
Through a message.
A photograph.
Hannah standing outside the company.
A second photograph.
Vincent asleep.
A third.
Their unborn child was not yet real, but the message didn't need to say that.
It said:
EVERY FUTURE HAS A WEAK POINT.
Vincent went cold.
He immediately wanted Hannah out of the city.
She refused.
“You're not disappearing again.”
“I have to protect you.”
“You can't protect me by lying to me.”
“He will kill you.”
“Then we'll face him together.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide alone anymore.”
He looked furious.
Then heartbroken.
“I cannot lose you.”
“You won't.”
“That isn't a promise you can make.”
“No.”
She took his hand.
“But I can promise I won't run.”
For the first time, Vincent looked at her not as someone he needed to protect.
But as someone standing beside him.
They built a plan.
Matteo wanted the original records.
The memory chip was incomplete.
The missing evidence was hidden in the warehouse.
Hannah knew where.
Because her mother had left one final clue.
The same blue notebook.
But this time, they didn't go alone.
Federal agents.
Daniel.
Maria.
Vincent.
Hannah.
Everyone.
They returned to the warehouse.
At midnight.
Matteo appeared.
He looked old.
Tired.
But dangerous.
“You've ruined everything,” he told Vincent.
“You did that yourself.”
“You were supposed to inherit nothing.”
Vincent looked at him.
“I inherited enough.”
Matteo smiled.
Then pulled out a gun.
Hannah stepped in front of Vincent.
“No.”
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
“Move.”
“No.”
Vincent grabbed her.
“Hannah!”
She refused.
“Remember what my mother taught me.”
“What?”
“Fear is expensive.”
She looked at Matteo.
“And I'm done paying.”
Matteo fired.
The bullet missed.
Daniel's team moved.
Matteo fell.
The war ended in seconds.
Not with blood.
With handcuffs.
Vincent stood silently as his uncle was taken away.
Hannah walked to him.
“It's over.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
She frowned.
“What?”
May you like
He took her hand.
“It finally begins.”
Related Stories
