Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Refused to Disappear
Greco held Rosa inside Pier 19.
He wanted Carmela’s archive.
Rosa stalled.
Eric, bound nearby, apologized for the years of fear he had caused her.
Rosa did not forgive him.
Not immediately.
That mattered.
Forgiveness was not something villains received because danger made them sympathetic.
When Greco realized Rosa had deceived him, he raised his weapon.
Dante arrived.
The confrontation ended without the heroic fantasy Greco expected.
Dante did not execute him.
He had already sent copies of Carmela’s evidence to federal investigators and attorneys.
Greco was arrested alive.
So was Beatrice.
For the first time, Dante chose consequences over vengeance.
But during the chaos, Rosa was injured protecting Eric from a ricocheting bullet.
At the hospital, Dante sat beside her all night.
When she woke, he was holding her hand.
“You look terrible,” she whispered.
“You were shot.”
“Grazed.”
“You were shot adjacent.”
Rosa laughed and immediately regretted it.
Dante leaned closer.
“I cannot do this again.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Do what?”
“Love someone and spend every day imagining the moment I lose her.”
Rosa understood.
“So don’t.”
Pain crossed his face.
Then she squeezed his fingers.
“Love me and imagine me staying.”
Dante looked at her.
It was the first time either had admitted what had grown between them.
Their kiss was quiet.
No audience.
No dramatic music.
Just two damaged adults choosing something frightening.
Hope.
Outside the room, Sophia whispered loudly to Marina:
“Are they kissing?”
Marina whispered, “Absolutely not.”
Sophia pushed the door open.
“They are!”
May you like
Dante closed his eyes.
Rosa laughed against his shoulder.
