Chapter 9 - THE WAR ENDS
The final confrontation happened at the old laboratory.
Vincent entered with Michael and Dominic.
Isabelle remained behind with security.
She refused to hide.
But Vincent made one promise.
"Come home."
She touched his face.
"Come back."
He kissed her forehead.
Then he left.
Inside the laboratory, Daniel was waiting.
Maria stood behind him.
Vincent raised his weapon.
Daniel looked exhausted.
"I never wanted this."
"You left her."
"I thought disappearing would save her."
"You let her believe she was alone."
Daniel looked toward the floor.
"I was wrong."
Maria laughed.
"You were always weak."
Daniel suddenly turned.
He shot Maria.
She fell.
Everyone froze.
Daniel dropped the weapon.
"Now you know."
Vincent stared at him.
"You killed your own protector."
"She killed everyone I loved."
Maria slowly reached for another weapon.
Michael shot it from her hand.
She screamed.
"You ungrateful children!"
Vincent stepped toward her.
"You taught us that family meant control."
He lowered his weapon.
"I choose something else."
Maria stared.
"What?"
"Family means choice."
Police sirens approached outside.
Daniel had already sent the laboratory records to federal investigators.
The entire Moretti and Falcone network was exposed.
Vincent could have run.
Instead, he handed over evidence.
Not everything.
Enough.
He dismantled the criminal empire.
The clubs became legitimate businesses.
The warehouses became logistics companies.
The construction firms became clean.
For the first time, Vincent Moretti began building something that didn't require fear.
But Maria had one last weapon.
She smiled as officers approached.
"Vincent."
He stopped.
"There's one thing you don't know."
She looked toward Isabelle.
"Your child isn't safe."
Vincent turned.
Isabelle stood outside.
Her hand was over her stomach.
A distant explosion shook the building.
Everyone froze.
Then Dominic's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
"Boss."
"What?"
"The hospital."
Vincent's blood went cold.
"Isabelle?"
"She's safe."
He exhaled.
"Then what?"
Dominic looked at him.
"The nursery."
Vincent stared.
"The nursery was broken into."
A photograph appeared.
A tiny crib.
Empty.
And beside it—
a note.
THE GAME WAS NEVER ABOUT THE BABY.
Vincent looked at Maria.
She was smiling.
May you like
But Maria hadn't ordered it.
Someone else had.
