Chapter 9 - The Day the Mafia King Walked Into ChicagoThree days later, Victor released a video.
Sebastian was standing.
No wheelchair.
No cane.
Walking.
Victor stood beside him.
The city exploded with rumors.
The Lombardi empire surged back.
Rivals panicked.
Politicians called emergency meetings.
Hospitals reported unprecedented inquiries into regenerative medicine.
And Chicago's underworld began hunting for Claire Bennett.
Because everyone knew one thing.
Sebastian's recovery had started when he met me.
I became the most wanted woman in Chicago without committing a crime.
Gabriel moved Oliver to a secure location.
I stayed hidden.
Then Sebastian appeared on live television.
He stood in front of the Lombardi headquarters.
Alone.
Victor's men surrounded him.
Sebastian looked directly into the cameras.
“My name is Sebastian Lombardi.”
The city listened.
“For twenty years, I was told I could not walk.”
He took a step.
Then another.
“I was lied to.”
Another step.
“My family lied.”
He looked toward the building.
“People I trusted lied.”
He paused.
“But the truth is coming.”
Victor's men raised their weapons.
Sebastian smiled.
“And when it does, every person who built their power on lies will fall.”
Then the broadcast ended.
Five minutes later, the first explosion hit the warehouse.
Lombardi's men attacked from every side.
But Sebastian was ready.
The war that followed lasted thirty-six hours.
By sunrise, three rival organizations had collapsed.
Two politicians resigned.
A judge disappeared.
And Victor vanished.
Sebastian returned to the safe house.
He looked exhausted.
I met him at the door.
“You're alive.”
He smiled.
“Barely.”
“You walked.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Anger is excellent therapy.”
I laughed.
Then hugged him.
His arms closed around me.
He whispered:
“I thought I lost you.”
“You didn't.”
“I almost did.”
“I know.”
He pulled away.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
I froze.
“I don't expect anything.”
“I know.”
“I only needed you to know.”
I looked at him.
“You've known me for weeks.”
“It feels longer.”
“That's dangerous.”
“So am I.”
I smiled.
“You are impossible.”
“You've said that.”
“You're also still terrifying.”
“Only to other people.”
He touched my cheek.
“Not you.”
Then Oliver came running into the room.
“Mom!”
He stopped when he saw us.
Then grinned.
“Did I interrupt something?”
I laughed.
Sebastian sighed.
“Apparently.”
Oliver looked at Sebastian.
“You said you loved my mom?”
Sebastian looked terrified.
“Yes.”
Oliver considered.
“Good.”
“What?”
“She's nicer when she's happy.”
Sebastian smiled.
“I've noticed.”
Oliver walked away.
I stared at Sebastian.
“You're getting parental approval from an eight-year-old.”
“I'm a powerful man.”
“Clearly.”
We almost had a normal moment.
Then Gabriel entered.
His face was grave.
“We found Marcus Vale.”
Sebastian's smile disappeared.
“Where?”
“In Chicago.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Gabriel placed a photograph on the table.
Marcus was standing outside a courthouse.
Beside him was a familiar woman.
My mother.
I stopped breathing.
My mother had been dead for eleven years.
Or so I believed.
The photograph was recent.
Taken that morning.
I whispered:
“That isn't possible.”
Gabriel looked at me.
“It is.”
May you like
And underneath the photograph was a message:
COME HOME, CLAIRE.
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