"If you destroy him and become him, nothing changes."
Luca said nothing.
For the first time in years, he had to consider a future in which winning did not mean taking another man's place.
***
Salvatore learned about the meeting before midnight.
A photograph arrived on his phone.
Elena standing beside Marco.
Luca near the car.
The message contained only six words.
THE VALE FAMILY IS TOGETHER AGAIN.
Salvatore stared at the screen.
Then he placed the phone on his desk.
He opened a drawer and removed a small photograph.
Antonio Moretti.
Marco Vale.
And himself.
Three young men standing beside a black car.
He looked at the picture.
"Sentimental fools."
His phone rang.
Daniel Cross.
Salvatore answered.
"You were supposed to bring me the evidence."
"I found the girl."
"That wasn't my instruction."
"She's with Marco."
Salvatore closed his eyes.
"Then we have a problem."
"What do you want me to do?"
Salvatore looked toward the dark window.
"Bring them home."
"And Luca?"
A pause.
"Especially Luca."
***
The first warning came at 2:30 in the morning.
A car passed slowly outside Marco's house.
Then another.
Vincent noticed immediately.
He stepped onto the porch.
"Inside."
Marco looked toward the road.
"How many?"
"At least six."
Luca stood.
"Get Elena upstairs."
She shook her head.
"I'm not hiding."
"Elena."
"No. I'm tired of being moved around like luggage."
Marco approached her.
"Listen to me. This is not about courage."
He took her face gently between his hands.
"You've spent eleven years living with the consequences of other people's decisions. Don't let them make another one for you."
Elena looked at him.
Then she nodded.
Vincent's men moved into position.
The first vehicle stopped.
A man stepped out.
He held a white envelope.
"Mr. Vale!"
Nobody answered.
"We only want to talk."
Vincent watched him through the window.
"Nobody believes that anymore."
The man raised the envelope.
"Salvatore sends his regards."
Marco closed his eyes.
Then he opened them.
"Tell him I'm done running."
The man smiled.
"Then come outside."
Marco stepped toward the door.
Luca caught his arm.
"Don't."
Marco looked at him.
"Your father used to say the same thing."
Then he turned toward Vincent.
"Call the authorities."
Vincent frowned.
"What?"
"Now."
"Marco—"
"Do it."
The first shot shattered the porch light.
Everyone dropped.
Vincent's security team returned fire from behind the reinforced windows.
The attackers moved toward the house.
The noise lasted less than a minute.
Then came silence.
Luca looked toward Elena.
She was crouched beside the stairs, holding her father's hand.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
Marco was bleeding from a cut across his forehead.
Luca helped him stand.
"Are you all right?"
Marco nodded.
Then he looked toward the front door.
"Daniel."
A figure stood beyond the broken window.
Daniel Cross.
He was older than the security footage suggested.
His face carried the same scar.
He looked directly at Marco.
"Still alive."
Marco stepped forward.
"Disappointed?"
Daniel smiled.
"Not yet."
He raised a gun.
But before he could fire, Vincent appeared behind him.
The gun fell.
Daniel was dragged to the ground.
Vincent pressed a knee between his shoulders.
"Hello, Daniel."
Cross laughed.
"You should have stayed dead."
Vincent leaned closer.
"I've been trying."
***
By sunrise, the local police had arrived.
The attackers were detained.
Daniel Cross was taken into custody.
Vincent had contacted an independent investigator and two prosecutors who had been working secretly with Marco for months.
The evidence was finally moving.
But Salvatore was still free.
And he knew it.
Luca stood in the garden, speaking with Vincent.
"We need to bring him in."
Vincent nodded.
"He's at the estate."
"How many men?"
"Twenty, perhaps more."
"Can we get inside?"
"Yes."
"Then we go."
Elena stepped out of the house.
"No."
Luca turned.
"This isn't your decision."
"It became my decision when he tried to kill my father."
Marco appeared behind her.
"She's right."
Luca looked at him.
"We can't wait."
"You don't have to."
Marco held up a small recording device.
"Daniel talked last night."
Vincent stared.
"What did he say?"
"Enough."
Marco placed the device on the table.
Salvatore's voice emerged.
Clear.
Calm.
Unmistakable.
He discussed Antonio's murder.
The false accident.
The disappearance of Marco.
The poisoned wine.
And the plan to kill Luca.
There was no room for interpretation.
Luca listened without moving.
When the recording ended, he looked at Vincent.
"Send it to the prosecutors."
Vincent nodded.
"And the family?"
Luca looked toward the harbor.
"Call everyone."
***
The Moretti estate stood on a hill overlooking the city.
It had belonged to the family for three generations.
Its stone walls were covered in ivy. The windows were tall, the gardens immaculate, and the driveway lined with ancient trees.
It was a beautiful house.
And it had witnessed too many funerals.
Salvatore stood in the main hall when Luca entered.
He was wearing a dark suit.
A glass of whiskey rested in his hand.
He looked almost pleased.
"Luca."
Luca stopped several feet away.
"Uncle."
Salvatore smiled.
"You look better."
"I've been told the same."
"Your recovery is a miracle."
"Not a miracle."
Luca looked around the room.
"An inconvenience."
Salvatore's smile disappeared.
Vincent entered behind Luca.