Chapter 24 - Dawn at the Marina
Luca Varga had prepared for war.
The abandoned marina contained explosives, rifles, stolen police radios, and enough ammunition to defend a small fortress.
He expected Adrian to attack from the road.
Adrian came from the water.
At 4:50 a.m., three unmarked boats drifted silently toward the docks.
Elena crouched beside him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“No.”
“You have your scary face.”
“I always have this face.”
“True.”
Dominic’s voice whispered over comms.
“Two guards south. One roof. Thermal shows Luca inside the repair shed.”
Federal agents waited outside the perimeter.
They couldn’t enter until they had direct confirmation of Luca due to jurisdictional complications.
Elena hated technicalities.
Adrian’s men neutralized the roof guard.
Elena entered the repair building through a side window.
Inside smelled of oil and saltwater.
She moved between covered boats.
A gun clicked behind her.
“Donna Elena.”
Luca.
She turned slowly.
He looked like Marco around the eyes.
Empty.
“Where’s Bellandi?”
“Home sleeping.”
Luca smiled.
“You lie badly.”
“I waited tables. Lying was part of customer service.”
He gestured with the pistol.
“Drop yours.”
She obeyed.
“You killed my brother.”
“Your brother attacked us.”
“Adrian killed him.”
“He chose a fight.”
“Bernardo gave him an order.”
“And Marco chose to follow it.”
Luca’s expression twisted.
“You think choice matters?”
“It always matters.”
“You were born into Caruso blood.”
“And spent seven years refilling coffee.”
“You still inherited an empire.”
“I inherited graves.”
That landed.
Luca stepped closer.
“My family had nothing.”
“So Bernardo bought you.”
“He respected us.”
“He used you.”
“Shut up.”
“He sent Marco into Adrian’s house while he stayed behind champagne and bodyguards.”
Luca’s finger tightened near the trigger.
Elena continued.
“And now Bernardo is alive in prison while your brother is underground.”
“Shut up!”
“Who benefited?”
He struck her.
Elena hit the floor.
Adrian emerged from the darkness.
His gun aimed directly at Luca’s head.
Luca spun.
“Drop it!”
Adrian’s voice could have frozen the harbor.
Luca grabbed Elena, pulling her upright as a shield.
“Gun down!”
Adrian’s weapon lowered.
“Let her go.”
“You took Marco.”
“Marco tried to murder her.”
“You all killed him!”
Elena watched Luca’s grip.
Too tight.
Unstable.
Beyond the window, dawn brightened.
Police sirens approached.
Luca heard them.
Panic flickered.
“You set me up.”
“Yes,” Elena said.
He dragged her toward a speedboat.
Adrian followed.
“Don’t.”
Luca shoved Elena aboard.
He jumped behind her.
The engine roared.
Adrian fired—not at Luca.
At the engine housing.
Smoke burst.
The boat spun violently.
Elena slammed into the railing.
Luca lost his weapon.
She tackled him.
They crashed onto the deck.
Luca grabbed her throat.
Then Adrian landed from the dock onto the boat with terrifying force.
He pulled Luca away.
One punch.
Two.
Three.
Luca collapsed.
Adrian raised his fist again.
“Elena!”
Her voice stopped him.
Police surrounded the marina.
Adrian looked down at Luca.
Then stepped back.
Breathing.
Barely.
But breathing.
Federal agents dragged Luca away.
Elena stood at the end of the dock as sunrise turned the water gold.
Adrian joined her.
“You okay?”
“My jaw hurts.”
His expression darkened.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“You’re thinking about finding him in federal custody.”
“I am offended you think so little of my self-control.”
“I know you.”
He sighed.
She rested her head against him.
“Is it over?”
Adrian looked at the police vehicles.
“Luca is done.”
“Not what I asked.”
He understood.
Was the war over?
Bernardo.
Vittorio.
Marco.
Luca.
Ghost after ghost from their parents’ generation.
Adrian took her hand.
“It can be.”
Elena looked at him.
“How?”
“Stop living like we expect another attack.”
That terrified her more than bullets.
Normal life required trust.
It required believing tomorrow existed.
She looked at the rising sun.
“Okay.”
Adrian blinked.
“Okay?”
“One normal morning.”
He smiled.
“Terrible pancakes?”
“Terrible pancakes.”
For once, no phone rang.
No gunshot followed.
May you like
No car exploded.
They stood together until the sun cleared the horizon.
