Chapter 9 - The Harbor Again
The threat came from Marco's brother, Julian Vieri.
Unlike Marco, Julian had never worked for Lorenzo.
He blamed Evelyn for destroying his family.
And he knew exactly where to hurt her.
The harbor.
The place everything had begun.
Julian abducted Evelyn after her hospital shift.
When she woke, rain struck her face.
She recognized the docks immediately.
The same warehouses.
The same black water.
The same cold wind.
Julian stood several feet away.
“You should've taken the money.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“Everybody keeps telling me that.”
He wanted Lorenzo.
Of course he did.
He used Evelyn's phone to call him.
Lorenzo arrived alone.
At least he appeared alone.
Evelyn knew better now.
So did Julian.
“Gun on the ground.”
Lorenzo obeyed.
“Kick it away.”
He did.
Julian smiled.
“You ruined my brother.”
“No,” Lorenzo said. “Your brother made choices.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Julian pointed the weapon toward Evelyn.
Lorenzo's calm vanished.
“Don't.”
That single word contained more fear than Evelyn had ever heard from him.
Julian noticed.
And enjoyed it.
“Now I understand.”
He stepped closer to Evelyn.
“The great Lorenzo Moretti finally has something he can't replace.”
Evelyn watched Lorenzo's eyes.
Then she noticed where he was looking.
Behind her.
A rusted chain.
A suspended cargo hook.
She understood.
Julian moved closer.
Evelyn grabbed the chain and pulled.
The hook swung.
Julian ducked instinctively.
Lorenzo lunged.
The gun fired.
For one horrible second, nobody moved.
Then Lorenzo stumbled.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Papa!”
Matteo's voice came from somewhere behind the police perimeter.
Evelyn dropped beside Lorenzo.
“No. No, no, no.”
Her nursing instincts took over.
Pressure.
Breathing.
Pulse.
“Stay with me.”
Lorenzo looked strangely peaceful.
“You're bossy.”
“Shut up.”
“Evelyn.”
“Don't.”
“I never thanked you.”
“You can thank me tomorrow.”
“For Matteo.”
“You already did.”
“No.”
His hand found hers.
“For making me understand why he deserved a better father.”
Tears blurred her vision.
Sirens surrounded them.
Julian was arrested.
Paramedics took Lorenzo away.
The bullet had missed his heart by less than two inches.
He survived surgery.
For thirty-six hours Evelyn refused to leave the hospital.
When Lorenzo finally woke, Matteo was asleep against her shoulder.
His eyes found them.
His family.
Three months later, Lorenzo returned to the harbor.
This time there were no weapons.
No guards visible.
No kidnappers.
He stood beside Evelyn where she had first found Matteo.
“I hated this place,” she admitted.
“And now?”
She looked at him.
“I think maybe beginnings can look like endings when you're standing inside them.”
Lorenzo reached into his coat.
Evelyn immediately pointed at him.
“Don't.”
He froze.
“If that's another wallet, I swear—”
He laughed.
Then he pulled out a small velvet box.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
“Lorenzo.”
“I know you don't need saving.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
“And I know you don't belong to me.”
He opened the box.
“Good start.”
“But if you'll let me, I'd like to belong beside you.”
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
Nothing extravagant.
Exactly her style.
Lorenzo lowered himself onto one knee.
“Evelyn Hart, name your price.”
She laughed through her tears.
Then shook her head.
“You still haven't learned.”
“Apparently not.”
“I don't have one.”
May you like
His expression softened.
“But I do have an answer.”
