Chapter 9 - THE LAKE COTTAGE
Police wanted Luciano to stay back. He refused.
Detective Hannah Cole studied the message and the property map. “If Marcus sees patrol cars, he may panic.”
“He already kidnapped my son.”
“I know.”
“No, Detective. You know the word. I know the boy.”
They compromised.
Luciano would drive the final half mile alone with an empty document case. Officers would approach through the woods.
The cottage appeared through falling snow, Marcus’s SUV parked outside.
Luciano got out with both hands visible.
“Marcus!”
The door opened.
Marcus stepped onto the porch.
Theo stood behind him.
Luciano wanted to rush to his son. He didn’t.
“Let him come to me.”
“Documents first.”
“You know Dad left everything to Theo.”
Marcus’s face twisted. “Dad humiliated me.”
“He protected the company from you.”
“I built that company too!”
“You stole from it.”
Marcus stepped down one stair. “Do you know what it was like? Every meeting, every dinner, every holiday—Luciano this, Luciano that. You were always the smart one. The reliable one. The son who never embarrassed him.”
Luciano looked past him at Theo.
“I don’t care about Dad’s approval right now. I care about my son.”
Theo’s voice cracked. “Daddy, I’m sorry.”
Luciano’s heart broke.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Marcus grabbed Theo’s shoulder.
Luciano took one step forward.
Marcus shouted, “Stop!”
His other hand disappeared inside his coat.
Luciano froze.
“Easy.”
Marcus pulled out a handgun.
Theo began to cry harder.
Luciano kept his voice steady. “Marcus, look at me.”
“You brought police.”
“No.”
“You always think you’re smarter than everyone.”
“Put the gun down.”
Marcus raised it.
Then Theo did something nobody expected.
He threw the wooden locomotive as hard as he could.
It struck Marcus directly in the wrist.
May you like
The gun fired.
* * *
