Chapter 9 - The Last Debt
Mia was gone.
The hospital security footage showed her leaving willingly with a nurse.
The nurse was later found unconscious in a parking garage.
Salerno's people had taken her uniform.
Peter remained sedated and knew nothing.
Sophia blamed herself.
Antonio wouldn't allow it.
“You didn't take her.”
“I left her.”
“With armed security.”
“Which failed.”
“Then blame me.”
“I do.”
Antonio absorbed the words.
Sophia immediately regretted them.
But he nodded.
“Good.”
“What?”
“Be angry.”
He stepped closer.
“Just don't turn that anger against yourself because I'm standing here and can take it.”
That nearly broke her.
Sophia pressed both hands against his chest.
“I can't lose her.”
“You won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
Antonio covered her hands.
“But I can promise you're not facing it alone.”
Salerno demanded Elena and the original evidence in exchange for Mia.
Elena volunteered immediately.
“No,” Sophia said.
“This started with my family,” Elena replied.
“It started with our fathers.”
“And it ends with us.”
Antonio developed the exchange.
This time, Sophia didn't fight him for control.
They planned together.
Salerno chose an abandoned waterfront hotel outside Miami.
Midnight.
Sophia, Antonio and Elena entered through the lobby.
No army.
No visible weapons.
Salerno waited inside the old ballroom.
He was smaller than Sophia expected.
Seventy.
Thin.
Oxygen tubing beneath his nose.
But his eyes remained viciously alert.
Mia sat beside him.
Alive.
Sophia's knees nearly weakened.
“Soph.”
“I'm here.”
Salerno smiled.
“Family reunions. So emotional.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
“My daughter.”
Salerno looked almost affectionate.
“You've spent twenty years trying to destroy me.”
“You destroyed yourself.”
Antonio held up a drive.
“Evidence.”
Salerno laughed.
“Copies exist.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would I trade?”
“Because this isn't the evidence.”
Antonio placed the drive on a table.
“It's access to every account Carlo hid from you.”
Salerno's smile vanished.
Antonio had discovered something while reviewing the foundation archives.
Carlo had been stealing from Salerno for years.
Hundreds of millions.
“You're lying.”
Antonio shrugged.
“Then kill us.”
Sophia looked at him sharply.
Salerno stared.
Antonio continued.
“Or check.”
Greed defeated suspicion.
Salerno ordered one of his men to verify the files.
Minutes passed.
The man's face changed.
“It's real.”
Salerno exploded.
“That bastard.”
Antonio smiled faintly.
“Apparently loyalty was never Carlo's strength.”
“Where is he?”
“Federal custody.”
Salerno stood.
His weakness disappeared beneath rage.
“I want him.”
“Then release Mia.”
Salerno looked at Sophia.
Then Elena.
“One hostage for one account?”
“All accounts.”
Antonio held up another drive.
Salerno considered.
Finally he shoved Mia forward.
Sophia ran.
She wrapped her sister in her arms.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Mia was crying.
“I'm okay.”
Antonio handed Salerno the second drive.
Salerno smiled.
“Pleasure doing business.”
Antonio's expression turned almost amused.
“No.”
Salerno frowned.
“This was never business.”
Sirens erupted outside.
Salerno's men reached for their weapons.
Federal agents flooded the entrances.
Salerno stared at Antonio.
“You brought them?”
Elena answered.
“I did.”
She had been recording everything.
Salerno grabbed Sophia.
A gun pressed against her side.
Antonio froze.
“Let her go.”
Salerno dragged Sophia backward.
“Everyone drops their weapons!”
Agents hesitated.
Sophia felt the gun tremble.
Salerno was frightened.
That made him more dangerous.
Antonio's eyes found hers.
A silent communication passed between them.
Trust me.
Sophia stopped resisting.
Salerno loosened his grip slightly.
Antonio moved.
Sophia dropped.
A shot exploded.
Antonio crossed the distance and hit Salerno before he could fire again.
Agents overwhelmed the old man.
Then Sophia saw Antonio stumble.
“Antonio?”
He looked down.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“No.”
Sophia caught him.
The ballroom disappeared around her.
“Stay with me.”
Antonio sank to the floor.
Sophia pressed both hands against the wound.
“Look at me.”
His eyes struggled to focus.
“You're very demanding.”
“Shut up.”
He almost smiled.
“That's my wife.”
“Don't you dare.”
Medics rushed toward them.
Antonio's fingers found hers.
“Sophia.”
“No.”
“If—”
“No if.”
“Sophia.”
She leaned closer.
Antonio whispered:
“I love you.”
Her heart shattered.
“You don't get to tell me that like goodbye.”
His eyes closed.
“Antonio!”
Medics pulled her away.
The last image Sophia saw before the ambulance doors closed was Antonio motionless beneath white hospital lights.
For the first time since marrying him, Sophia understood exactly what she wanted.
Not his money.
Not his protection.
Not his name.
May you like
Him.
And she had no idea whether he would live long enough to hear her say it.
