Chapter 13 - The Girl Vittorio Couldn’t Control
At 11:42 p.m., Sofia walked into Marino Tower carrying a metal case.
Riccardo walked beside her.
No weapons were visible.
That didn’t mean Riccardo was unarmed.
Sofia had learned enough about him to know that.
The lobby was empty.
Vittorio’s men took their phones.
One searched Sofia.
She slapped his hand away.
“Touch me again and I’ll break your fingers.”
Riccardo looked at her.
“You really are Isabella’s daughter.”
“Not the time.”
The elevator opened on the top floor.
Vittorio waited behind Riccardo’s old desk.
Marco knelt nearby.
His hands were tied.
Blood ran down his face.
“Sofia.”
He looked horrified.
“Why are you here?”
“To get you out.”
Vittorio laughed.
“How touching.”
Sofia placed the case on the desk.
“The ledgers.”
Vittorio reached.
She kept one hand on it.
“Marco first.”
Vittorio smiled.
“You think you’re negotiating?”
“I think you need what’s inside this box.”
He stared at her.
For the first time, Sofia could see the resemblance to Riccardo.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
None of the warmth.
“Release him.”
Vittorio nodded.
A guard cut Marco’s restraints.
Marco stumbled toward Riccardo.
Vittorio took the case.
He opened it.
Empty.
His smile disappeared.
Riccardo laughed.
Sofia stepped back.
Vittorio slammed the case onto the desk.
“Where are they?”
“Everywhere.”
His eyes narrowed.
Antonio’s voice suddenly came through the office speakers.
“Good evening, Vittorio.”
Vittorio spun.
“What?”
Antonio continued.
“The ledgers were scanned thirty-two minutes ago.”
Sofia smiled.
“Reporters have copies.”
Vittorio’s face changed.
“Prosecutors have copies,” Antonio said.
Riccardo added, “Federal investigators too.”
Vittorio pulled a gun.
Riccardo moved in front of Sofia.
Vittorio laughed.
“You think paper scares me?”
Sofia said, “No.”
She pulled a tiny recorder from her collar.
“But your own voice might.”
Vittorio stared.
Sofia continued.
“Everything tonight has been streamed to three places.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Want to test it?”
Vittorio’s men began looking at each other.
Their confidence cracked.
Riccardo noticed.
“Walk away.”
Vittorio pointed the gun at them.
“Nobody moves.”
One man lowered his weapon.
Vittorio shot him.
Chaos erupted.
Marco tackled Sofia behind a sofa.
Riccardo fired.
Glass shattered.
Vittorio ran toward a private elevator.
Sofia saw him.
“He’s leaving!”
Riccardo chased.
Sofia followed.
Marco shouted, “Stay back!”
Nobody listened.
They reached the rooftop.
Wind tore across the building.
Vittorio stood near the helicopter pad.
A helicopter lifted from behind the tower.
Riccardo raised his gun.
Vittorio grabbed Sofia.
She screamed.
His arm locked around her throat.
The gun pressed against her head.
Riccardo froze.
“Drop it.”
Riccardo lowered his weapon.
Vittorio smiled.
“There.”
He tightened his grip.
“That’s why Isabella made you weak.”
Sofia struggled.
Vittorio whispered into her ear.
“He’ll let me walk away.”
Riccardo slowly placed the gun on the ground.
Vittorio laughed.
“You see?”
Sofia stopped struggling.
Then she said quietly:
“You don’t know him anymore.”
Vittorio frowned.
Sofia drove her heel down onto his foot.
Hard.
He loosened his grip.
She twisted.
Riccardo lunged.
A gunshot exploded.
Sofia screamed.
May you like
Riccardo stopped.
Blood appeared across his shirt.
