Chapter 9 - The Man Who Wanted Everything
The authorities arrested Matteo first.
Then Enzo.
Richard Kane surrendered.
The records were enough to bring down the entire network.
But one name remained untouched.
Vincent Bell.
The man presumed dead fifteen years earlier.
He was the real financier.
The person who had moved the money.
The person who had funded the chemical experiments.
The person who had manipulated Matteo and Enzo.
He had one last move.
He took Milo.
Cora almost collapsed when the call came.
"Bring the box."
The distorted voice spoke calmly.
"Bring Masimo."
"You have my brother."
"I have a boy who trusts people too easily."
Cora's hands shook.
Masimo took the phone.
"Where?"
"Arbor Street."
The diner site.
The place where everything had begun.
They arrived at midnight.
The lot was empty.
Snow had begun falling.
A single building stood across the street.
An old theater.
Lights on.
Masimo looked at Cora.
"Stay behind me."
"No."
He almost smiled.
"You've become difficult."
"I was always difficult."
They entered.
Milo sat in the front row.
Unhurt.
Vincent Bell stood behind him.
Cora's breath caught.
He looked older.
But not weak.
He held a gun.
Masimo stepped forward.
"You wanted the box."
"Yes."
"Take it."
Cora handed it over.
Vincent opened it.
Then frowned.
"It's incomplete."
Cora smiled.
"You thought the box was the evidence."
Vincent looked at her.
"It is."
"No."
She lifted the blue-bird notebook.
"This is."
Vincent's face changed.
Milo smiled.
He had already drawn the final sequence.
Cora held it up.
Every page contained the missing code.
Masimo moved slowly.
"You lose."
Vincent aimed at Milo.
Then Cora stepped between them.
"Don't."
Her voice was calm.
Vincent laughed.
"You're brave."
"No."
She looked at Masimo.
"I'm tired."
Vincent hesitated.
That was enough.
Masimo moved.
A shot rang out.
Vincent dropped.
Police rushed in.
Milo ran into Cora's arms.
She held him.
Masimo stood still.
He had a cut on his shoulder.
Cora saw the blood.
"You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
"Because it's usually true."
She touched his face.
"Not tonight."
He looked at her.
"You're crying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She kissed him.
In front of the police.
In front of the entire mess that had followed them for five years.
And for once, Masimo didn't care who saw.
Later that night, at the hospital, Milo slept.
Cora sat beside him.
Masimo sat beside her.
"What happens now?"
She asked.
"To us?"
He nodded.
"I don't know."
She smiled faintly.
"You were so confident two days ago."
"I was joking."
"You aren't anymore."
"No."
He took her hand.
"I'm not."
Cora looked down.
"Then don't promise me forever."
"Why?"
"Because forever is too big."
He nodded.
"How about tomorrow?"
She looked at him.
"Tomorrow works."
He smiled.
"Then tomorrow."
Outside the hospital, police escorted Enzo and Matteo away.
Richard Kane gave his final statement.
The Orsini empire began to collapse.
Masimo could have fought to keep everything.
Instead, he turned over the illegal assets.
He sold the businesses connected to the operation.
He kept only the legitimate shipping company.
And for the first time, the name Orsini stopped meaning fear.
It began to mean something else.
A second chance.
Months later, Masimo took Cora back to the restaurant where they had their first date.
The same table.
The same waiter.
Different people.
"You chose spaghetti again," he said.
"It's good."
"You always choose it."
"It's dependable."
He smiled.
"Like me?"
She looked at him.
"No."
He laughed.
"That hurt."
She leaned closer.
"You're not dependable."
"That's terrible."
"You are predictable."
"How?"
"I knew you'd bring me here."
He took a small box from his pocket.
Cora's expression changed.
"Masimo."
"Before you panic, it's not a ring."
She opened it.
Inside was a key.
"What does it open?"
"The new office."
"What new office?"
"Yours."
She stared at him.
"You bought me an office?"
"I gave you an office."
"Why?"
"Because you're done being my secretary."
She smiled.
"What am I now?"
He leaned across the table.
"My partner."
Her eyes softened.
"Business partner?"
"At first."
May you like
She laughed.
And the laughter stayed.
