Chapter 15 - The Man Who Changed the Plan
Dario had stopped obeying my mother.
That made him more dangerous than she was.
"Put the gun down," Sofia said.
He laughed.
"Now you want rules?"
He dragged Carlo closer.
"I moved your money. I threatened your doctors. I cleaned up your mistakes. And now I'm supposed to go to prison while you negotiate?"
Sofia's face tightened.
"You were paid."
"Not enough."
He nodded toward the baby.
"The boy is my insurance."
Grace stood slowly.
"Take me instead."
"No," I said.
Dario smiled.
"There she is. The reason this whole family lost its mind."
He ordered everyone against the wall and forced Matteo to carry the baby seat.
Then he marched us toward the underground tunnel.
Helen Ward's investigators could not fire without risking Nicholas.
In the tunnel, Dario pushed open a service door I had never seen.
It led toward the old river road.
A van waited outside.
"You planned this," I said.
"I plan everything."
That arrogance gave Grace an opening.
As Dario turned toward the driver, she kicked the van door shut on his wrist.
The gun fired into the dirt.
Carlo drove his shoulder into him.
Matteo ran with Nicholas.
I tackled Dario.
We hit the ground hard.
He reached for a knife.
I caught his wrist with both hands.
"Luca!" Grace screamed.
A second man appeared behind her with a gun.
Then Sofia stepped between them.
The shot exploded.
My mother jerked backward.
For one impossible second, nobody moved.
Sofia looked down at the blood spreading across her shoulder.
Then she raised a small pistol I had not known she carried and shot the man in the leg.
Police rushed from the trees.
Dario was dragged away.
I stared at my mother.
She had kidnapped my wife.
She had stolen my son.
And she had just taken a bullet meant for Grace.
May you like
Sofia looked at me and whispered,
"Don't mistake this for forgiveness."
