Chapter 13 - The Rescue
Salvatore fired twice.
Two men dropped.
Carmine’s team entered through the loading bays.
Marco grabbed Leo.
Gun against the child’s head.
Everyone froze.
“Enough!” Marco shouted.
Salvatore lowered his weapon.
Leo’s face was bruised.
Salvatore saw the red mark from Marco’s hand.
Something savage rose inside him.
Marco smiled.
“There. That look. That’s the real you.”
Salvatore’s voice remained calm.
“Let him go.”
“Trade.”
“What?”
“Your life for his.”
Carmine whispered, “Boss, no.”
Salvatore placed his gun on the floor.
Leo shook his head.
“Dad.”
“It’s okay.”
“No!”
Salvatore stepped forward.
Marco smiled.
“You always wanted to be the hero.”
“No.”
Salvatore looked at Leo.
“I only learned recently that I had something worth saving.”
Marco’s attention shifted for one second.
That was enough.
Leo stomped his heel onto Marco’s foot.
Titan lunged.
The gun fired.
Salvatore charged.
He hit Marco before the second shot.
The brothers crashed through a wooden railing.
Marco punched him.
Salvatore returned it.
Years of grief exploded between them.
Marco reached for a knife.
Salvatore caught his wrist.
“You killed Mercer.”
“Yes.”
“You hunted Elena.”
“Yes.”
“You hurt my son.”
Marco smiled through bloody teeth.
“And you’re still too weak to finish me.”
Salvatore knocked the knife away.
Then pinned Marco against the floor.
His hands closed around his brother’s throat.
Marco laughed.
“Do it.”
Salvatore squeezed.
Leo watched.
Elena’s video echoed in his mind.
Do not avenge me by becoming the worst version of yourself.
Salvatore released him.
Marco looked stunned.
Salvatore stood.
“No.”
Marco coughed.
“Coward.”
Salvatore looked down.
“You’re going to live long enough to watch everything you built disappear.”
Federal agents entered.
Rebecca Shaw herself placed Marco in cuffs.
Leo ran to Salvatore.
Salvatore held him tightly.
The embrace lasted longer than either expected.
“You came.”
“I said I would.”
Leo buried his face against his father’s chest.
“You always say that.”
“And now?”
May you like
Leo whispered.
“Now I believe you.”
