Chapter 14 - The Last Costa Enemy
Five years after the Plaza attack, Salvatore was released pending appeal on one portion of his case while still facing other restrictions.
He contacted Vincent.
One meeting.
Public place.
Mave opposed it.
Vincent went anyway.
But he asked her first.
“Do you think I should?”
“No.”
“Will you be angry if I do?”
“Yes.”
“Can I go anyway?”
Mave sighed.
“Yes.”
Progress.
Salvatore met Vincent in a church courtyard.
He looked old.
“Everything’s gone,” Salvatore said.
Vincent understood.
The syndicate.
Power.
Fear.
“Good.”
Salvatore laughed bitterly.
“You destroyed your father’s empire for a woman.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
“Still denying it?”
“I destroyed it because it deserved destroying.”
“And Mave?”
Vincent smiled.
“She showed me where the cracks were.”
Salvatore stared.
“You’re weak.”
“Maybe.”
Vincent stood.
“But I sleep at night.”
He walked away.
No revenge.
No gun.
No final bloodshed.
That was how the Costa empire truly ended.
May you like
Not when the accounts were closed.
When Vincent stopped needing his enemies to fear him.
