Chapter 5 - The Photograph That Almost Destroyed Them
The photographs were old.
Too old.
Damian looked sixteen in one.
Seventeen in another.
In every picture, he stood beside Matteo.
Sometimes smiling.
Sometimes holding a gun.
Sometimes inside rooms that clearly belonged to the Costa organization.
I stared at the photographs.
"How old were you?"
"Seventeen."
"Why was Matteo teaching you?"
"My father died."
"And Matteo raised you?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you say he was your uncle?"
"He was."
"You let everyone believe he was dead."
"I didn't know he was alive."
I looked at him.
"How?"
"Because he disappeared."
The answer sounded incomplete.
"Damian."
He sat across from me.
"When I was seventeen, Matteo wanted me to become ruthless. My father wanted something else."
"What?"
"To build an organization that could survive without fear."
He laughed quietly.
"My father failed."
"Did Matteo kill him?"
Damian didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
The room went silent.
The photograph in my hand shook.
"You think Matteo killed him."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you kill Matteo?"
"Because I spent sixteen years trying to find him."
"And now?"
"Now I will."
I studied him.
For the first time, I realized something.
The feared Mafia boss of Chicago wasn't fearless.
He was exhausted.
He had been hunting the same ghost for sixteen years.
We opened the ledger.
Most of it was coded.
But one page was clear.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
And beside dozens of entries was the same symbol.
A black serpent.
Matteo's ring.
Then I saw my father's final entry.
R. Hayes — transfer — protected subject: A.H.
My initials.
Protected subject.
Not debt.
Protection.
My father hadn't lost $120,000 gambling.
He had stolen it.
He had taken money from the Falcones to keep me hidden.
I looked at Damian.
"I've been paying a debt that wasn't mine."
"Yes."
My eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because your father wanted you to believe you were ordinary."
I laughed through tears.
"He could have at least left me a note."
"He did."
"You were holding it."
Damian looked down.
The old note.
If anything happens to me, protect Amelia.
I wiped my eyes.
"You're serious about keeping me alive."
"Yes."
"Even now?"
"Especially now."
We were interrupted by Sofia.
She entered with a folder.
"There's another problem."
"What?"
She placed the folder on the table.
"Isabella has disappeared."
Damian stood immediately.
"Where?"
"Airport."
"Which one?"
"Midway."
He cursed.
I looked at the photographs.
"She's running."
"No."
Damian's expression hardened.
"She's going to Matteo."
We found her car abandoned.
Inside was a single envelope.
My name on it.
I opened it.
You shouldn't trust the man whose heart belongs to revenge.
No signature.
Damian read it.
"She's trying to turn you against me."
"Maybe because it works."
He looked at me.
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know."
He stepped closer.
"Ask me anything."
"Did you ever kill for Matteo?"
His jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"Did you enjoy it?"
"No."
"Would you do it again?"
"For you?"
"That isn't what I asked."
He looked away.
Then answered honestly.
"If someone came for you, yes."
My chest tightened.
I didn't want to like that answer.
But I did.
That frightened me more than anything.
That night, someone attacked the bunker.
Not from outside.
Inside.
The power failed.
Security systems shut down.
Doors unlocked.
Men began shooting.
Damian grabbed my hand.
"Stay behind me."
We ran through the corridors.
Then a figure appeared at the end.
Isabella.
Gun raised.
Damian stopped.
"Isabella."
Her eyes were wet.
"Move, Damian."
He shook his head.
"You don't have to do this."
"I already did."
She looked at me.
"You don't know what he is."
"I know enough."
"No."
She swallowed.
"You know what he wants you to know."
She raised the gun.
Damian pushed me aside.
The shot rang.
I screamed.
Damian staggered.
Blood spread across his chest.
"Damian!"
He fell.
I ran to him.
Isabella's expression collapsed.
She looked horrified.
"I didn't mean..."
Another gunshot.
Isabella dropped her weapon.
A man stood behind her.
Matteo's lieutenant.
He shot Isabella through the shoulder.
Then pointed his gun at me.
He smiled.
"Miss Hayes."
I froze.
He pulled back his weapon.
"Your father sends his regards."
He fired.
Damian rolled over me.
The bullet hit the wall.
His men returned fire.
The lieutenant fled.
I looked down.
Damian was bleeding.
"You're shot."
He smiled faintly.
"Apparently."
I pressed my hands against the wound.
"Stay awake."
He stared at me.
"I have one question."
"Not now."
"Do you trust me?"
I looked into his eyes.
"I don't know."
He closed his eyes.
"That's fair."
"Damian."
His hand found mine.
"Don't let go."
I squeezed his hand.
"I won't."
His breathing became shallow.
And for the first time since meeting him, I realized something terrifying.
May you like
I was no longer afraid of dying.
I was afraid of losing him.
