Chapter 10 - THE SHOT
The shot shattered a porch window.
Theo screamed.
Luciano ran.
Marcus grabbed for the gun, but Theo kicked it down the steps. Luciano reached the porch and drove his shoulder into his brother before Marcus could recover.
They hit the railing together.
Marcus swung wildly.
Luciano blocked him once, twice, then pinned him against the boards.
“Where is Theo?”
“I’m here!”
Theo was crouched behind a porch post.
Luciano shoved Marcus away and pulled his son against his chest.
Police burst from the tree line seconds later.
“Hands! Show me your hands!”
Marcus looked around as if control might somehow return. It didn’t.
He was handcuffed face down in the snow.
Theo shook inside Luciano’s arms.
“You came,” the boy whispered.
“Always.”
“You said that before.”
Luciano closed his eyes.
Theo was right.
He had said it before every business trip. Before every late meeting. Before every time he handed his son to people he thought were safe.
Always.
The word felt like a promise he had not earned.
At the hospital, doctors found no serious injuries, only bruising, dehydration, and signs of repeated stress.
Then a nurse asked Luciano to step into the hallway.
“There’s something else.”
He immediately went cold.
“What?”
“Theo told our social worker this wasn’t the first time his uncle threatened to send him away.”
Luciano swallowed.
“How long?”
“Months.”
The nurse handed him a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a folded note found in Theo’s sock.
The handwriting was Theo’s.
DADDY, IF I GO AWAY, PLEASE FIND ME.
Luciano stared at it until the letters blurred.
Then the social worker approached.
“Mr. Moretti, Theo also told us something about his grandmother.”
Luciano looked up.
May you like
“What did she do?”
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