Chapter 9 - The Waitress Who Refused to Run
Victor Sanzaro disappeared.
For six days, nobody found him.
Federal agents searched airports, train stations, properties, safe houses.
Nothing.
Dante moved me to a secure location.
I hated every second.
Not because the house was uncomfortable.
It was beautiful.
Because hiding felt like giving Victor ownership of my life.
On the seventh morning, I told Dante I was leaving.
“No.”
“I enrolled.”
“In what?”
“Nursing school.”
His expression changed.
“You did?”
“Classes begin next month.”
Pride appeared before fear replaced it.
“You cannot return to normal life while Victor is free.”
“That’s exactly why I have to.”
“Clare—”
“My mother spent twenty-four years hiding.”
He went silent.
“I understand why she did it. She was protecting me. But I’m not spending the next twenty-four doing the same thing.”
Dante looked exhausted.
“I cannot lose you.”
I walked toward him.
“You don’t protect someone by putting their life on pause.”
He knew I was right.
He hated it.
But he knew.
That afternoon, I returned to the diner.
Not to work.
To resign.
The yellow uniform hung inside my locker.
I touched the cheap fabric.
That dress represented years of survival.
I could have hated it.
Instead, I folded it carefully.
Tommy’s replacement, Maria, hugged me.
“You’re really leaving?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Finish nursing school.”
She smiled.
“Your mom would be proud.”
That nearly broke me.
Outside, Dante waited beside the SUV.
No entourage.
Just him.
“You finished?”
“Finished.”
He opened the door.
Then the diner window exploded.
Dante shoved me down.
A vehicle accelerated from across the street.
Not gunfire.
A distraction.
Two masked men rushed from the alley.
Dante fought the first.
The second grabbed me.
I screamed.
Something covered my mouth.
The world disappeared.
When I woke, my wrists were tied.
An abandoned restaurant.
Dark windows.
Dust.
Victor sat across from me.
“You are remarkably inconvenient.”
“My boyfriend says that too.”
He laughed.
“So he is your boyfriend.”
“Labels seem irrelevant considering the kidnapping.”
Victor leaned closer.
“You inherited Michael’s mouth.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You know, your father could have lived.”
“If he ignored what you were doing.”
“Yes.”
“Then he made the right choice.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“People like your father always believe morality makes them brave.”
“And people like you think cruelty makes you powerful.”
He slapped the table.
I flinched but refused to look away.
“You know what Dante will do for you?”
“Something dramatically excessive?”
“He’ll come alone.”
My stomach tightened.
Victor had already contacted him.
“Dante isn’t stupid.”
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“He’s in love.”
That frightened me more.
Twenty minutes later, a door opened.
Dante entered.
Alone.
Victor smiled.
“Predictable.”
Dante looked only at me.
“You hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Victor pointed his gun.
“Stop.”
Dante stopped.
“Your weapon.”
Dante placed it on the floor.
Kicked it away.
“Let her go.”
“You Carusos always want to negotiate.”
“Then name your price.”
“Everything.”
Dante did not hesitate.
“Done.”
I stared.
“Dante.”
He ignored me.
“Accounts. Businesses. Properties. Whatever you want.”
Victor laughed.
“For a waitress?”
Dante looked at me.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“For my future.”
My throat tightened.
Victor’s expression turned disgusted.
“Pathetic.”
“No,” Dante said. “That’s what our fathers never understood.”
He stepped forward.
“Power means nothing if everything you protect is empty.”
Victor aimed at his chest.
“Stop.”
Dante stopped.
Then a sound came from outside.
Sirens.
Victor’s face changed.
“You brought them.”
“No.”
I smiled.
“I did.”
Both men looked at me.
Victor frowned.
I lifted my bound hands slightly.
His phone was missing.
During our conversation, I had taken it from the table and managed to trigger the emergency function.
Nico had taught me.
Victor lunged toward me.
Dante moved.
The gun fired.
I screamed.
Dante staggered.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Everything inside me stopped.
“No!”
Agents crashed through the doors.
Victor disappeared beneath bodies.
I crawled toward Dante.
“Look at me.”
He struggled to breathe.
“Clare.”
“No. Don’t do that movie thing where you say my name like you’re dying.”
His mouth twitched.
“You insult me while I’m bleeding?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Stay awake.”
His hand found mine.
“I love you.”
My heart shattered.
“You don’t get to tell me that for the first time while bleeding on a disgusting floor.”
“Timing was never my strength.”
“Dante.”
“I love you.”
Tears blurred my vision.
“I love you too.”
Paramedics rushed in.
They pulled me away.
I fought until Nico grabbed me.
“Let them work.”
I watched strangers cut open Dante’s shirt.
Watched them press gauze against his chest.
Watched the strongest man I had ever known become frighteningly still.
At the hospital, surgery lasted four hours.
I sat beside Nico and Isabella.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, a surgeon entered.
“Family of Dante Caruso?”
All three of us stood.
“He made it through surgery.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“The bullet missed his heart. There was significant blood loss, but we expect him to recover.”
I cried.
Not elegantly.
Not quietly.
I cried like someone whose entire future had almost disappeared.
Hours later, Dante opened his eyes.
I sat beside him.
He looked terrible.
I had never seen anything more beautiful.
“Murphy.”
“Caruso.”
“You stayed.”
“Unfortunately.”
A faint smile.
“Good.”
I held his hand.
“Victor?”
“Federal custody.”
“Your businesses?”
“Nico.”
“What about you?”
Dante looked confused.
“What about me?”
“What happens after this?”
He stared at our joined hands.
Then at me.
“I don’t know.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“For once, Dante Caruso doesn’t have a plan.”
May you like
I kissed his knuckles.
“So maybe we make one together.”
