Chapter 9 - The Last Hunt
Victor resurfaced six months later.
He attacked a courthouse.
He killed two guards.
He stole evidence.
Then he vanished again.
He left one message.
Come find me.
Vincent did.
He tracked Victor through bank transfers.
Hotels.
Safe houses.
Old Cross properties.
The trail ended in a small town on the coast.
There was an abandoned church.
Inside, Victor was waiting.
Fay came with Vincent.
Victor smiled.
“You brought her.”
Vincent's voice was cold.
“You wanted her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she was always the proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That your family could be destroyed.”
Fay stepped forward.
“My family isn't destroyed.”
Victor laughed.
“Look around.”
Vincent looked.
Photographs covered the walls.
His father.
His mother.
Anthony.
Julian.
Michael.
Elias.
Fay.
Every person connected to the tragedy.
Victor said:
“I spent seventeen years proving one thing.”
“What?”
“That powerful families always destroy themselves.”
Fay looked at him.
“You're wrong.”
Victor raised a gun.
“They always do.”
Vincent stepped in front of Fay.
“Then shoot me.”
Victor hesitated.
Vincent continued.
“You wanted revenge.”
“Yes.”
“You got it.”
“No.”
“You destroyed the old syndicate.”
“Yes.”
“You ruined my name.”
“Yes.”
“You killed people.”
Victor's hand shook.
“And you're still standing.”
Vincent looked at him.
“Because I stopped being the man my father wanted me to be.”
Victor stared.
“You think you're different.”
“I am.”
“How?”
Vincent pointed at Fay.
“Because I chose her over the empire.”
Victor's expression broke.
Police surrounded the church.
Victor looked toward the doors.
“You betrayed me.”
Vincent shook his head.
“You never had my loyalty.”
Victor raised the gun.
Fay grabbed Vincent's arm.
“Don't.”
Victor fired.
The bullet missed.
Police tackled him.
The last remaining enemy of the Cross family was finally captured.
In the months that followed, the trials began.
The entire operation collapsed.
Michael testified.
Evelyn confessed.
Julian cooperated.
Vincent accepted the consequences.
He turned over the remaining assets tied to organized crime.
The family name became toxic.
But the people who had been hurt finally had a chance to rebuild.
Fay's mother finished treatment.
The cancer went into remission.
The first time the doctor said the word remission, Fay cried so hard she could barely stand.
Vincent was beside her.
He did not say anything.
He simply held her.
Later that night, they returned to the mansion.
The place was quieter than ever.
No soldiers.
No smugglers.
No capos.
No hidden meetings.
Only empty rooms.
Fay walked into the kitchen.
The same kitchen where everything had started.
She looked at the locked door.
“You remember?”
Vincent nodded.
“How could I forget?”
“You asked me who hurt me.”
“And you lied.”
“I did.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because I was terrified.”
“Of Donovan?”
“Of losing everything.”
“You didn't.”
“I almost did.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Fay.”
She looked at him.
“I never wanted you to be a ghost.”
“What did you want?”
“You.”
She blinked.
He continued.
“Not because you're useful.”
“Not because you're connected to the ledger.”
“Not because you're my father's mystery.”
“I know.”
“You became the only person I trusted.”
Fay smiled.
“And that's dangerous.”
“For me.”
“Why?”
“Because if I lose you, I lose the only place that ever felt like home.”
She touched his cheek.
“I didn't fall in love with the mafia boss.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
“I fell in love with the man who ruined his suit in dirty kitchen water because he couldn't walk away from a crying woman.”
He laughed.
“That may be the worst compliment I've ever received.”
She kissed him.
And for the first time in years, the Cross mansion did not feel haunted.
It felt empty.
May you like
Which was better.
Because emptiness could be filled with something new.
