Chapter 7 - THE LAST THING VINCENT WANTED
Norah’s phone rang again.
Unknown number.
Roman reached for it.
Then stopped himself.
“Your choice.”
Norah stared at him before answering.
“Hello?”
Vincent’s voice came through.
“Did you enjoy your Christmas reunion?”
Norah’s stomach twisted.
“What do you want?”
“Roman.”
Roman heard.
Norah continued.
“You’re not getting him.”
Vincent laughed.
“You still think this is about killing him.”
“What else would it be?”
“Making him become himself again.”
Norah frowned.
Vincent explained.
Roman’s legitimacy depended on cooperation with federal investigators.
One violent retaliation could destroy everything.
Vincent wanted Roman angry.
Uncontrolled.
Publicly monstrous.
“Tell your husband I’m waiting where your sister died.”
The call ended.
Roman was already reaching for his coat.
Norah blocked him.
“That’s what he wants.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t go.”
Roman looked at her.
“If I don’t, he’ll hurt someone else.”
“So call the authorities.”
“He’ll disappear.”
“Then let them find him.”
Roman’s fists clenched.
Every instinct screamed action.
Norah could see the battle inside him.
Finally, he called Ward.
They built a plan.
No private army.
No revenge.
Police.
Federal agents.
Evidence.
Roman would serve as bait.
The mountain road outside Denver was buried beneath snow when Roman arrived the following night.
Vincent waited beside the wreckage site where Claire had died.
He looked exhausted.
Wild.
A pistol hung loosely in his hand.
“You actually came without your soldiers.”
Roman stepped from the SUV.
“You wanted me.”
“I wanted the old you.”
“He’s tired.”
Vincent laughed.
“Marriage made you sentimental.”
“Fatherhood made me busy.”
For one strange second, Vincent looked almost sad.
“We built something together.”
“No. We inherited something rotten and called it loyalty.”
Vincent raised the gun.
“You think you can wash your hands now?”
“No.”
Roman stopped several yards away.
“I think I can stop dirtying them.”
Vincent’s expression twisted.
“After everything we did?”
“Yes.”
“That easy?”
“No.”
Roman looked toward the roadside memorial Norah had created for Claire.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Vincent suddenly fired.
Roman dropped behind the SUV.
Agents moved from hiding.
Vincent ran into the trees.
Roman followed before anyone could stop him.
The chase ended near a frozen ravine.
Vincent slipped.
His body slid over the edge.
Roman caught his wrist.
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Vincent laughed breathlessly.
“This is perfect.”
Roman strained to hold him.
“Give me your other hand.”
“No.”
“Vincent.”
“Let go.”
Roman tightened his grip.
Vincent smiled.
“If you save me, I spend my life in prison.”
“That’s your problem.”
“You hate me.”
“Yes.”
“I killed Claire.”
“I know.”
“I took your wife.”
Roman’s eyes darkened.
“You frightened her away.”
“I stole your children’s first three months.”
Roman’s grip trembled.
Vincent saw it.
“There he is.”
Roman understood.
Vincent wanted him to let go.
One movement.
One death.
One return to the man he had always been.
Roman reached farther.
“Give me your hand.”
Vincent stared.
For the first time, fear replaced arrogance.
Roman pulled him upward.
Agents grabbed Vincent.
Handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
Roman stood in the snow breathing heavily.
Ward approached.
“You could have let him fall.”
Roman stared at Vincent.
“I know.”
Back in Chicago, Norah watched the body-camera footage later.
She saw Roman save the man responsible for Claire’s death.
Something inside her finally shifted.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
Trust was not a light switch.
But for the first time she believed Roman’s transformation might survive when nobody he loved was watching.
That night, she entered the nursery.
Roman was asleep in the rocking chair.
Lily rested on his chest.
Luca slept in the crib.
Norah gently lifted Lily.
Roman woke immediately.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
Then kissed his cheek.
Roman froze.
Norah walked toward the door.
“Norah.”
She stopped.
“What was that?”
“A kiss.”
“I remember those.”
“Good.”
“Does it mean anything?”
She looked over her shoulder.
“It means I saw what you did.”
Roman’s expression softened.
She continued.
“Don’t make me regret noticing.”
Then she left.
Roman sat alone smiling like an idiot.
Luca began crying.
Roman looked at him.
“Your timing is terrible.”
The baby screamed louder.
Roman stood.
May you like
“All right. I’m coming.”
For once, Roman DeLuca was perfectly happy to obey.
