Chapter 14 - THE FINAL MOVE
Adrian's uncle had been the architect.
For twenty years, he had manipulated both sides.
He had created conflict between families.
He had used Matthew.
He had arranged deaths.
And Samuel had discovered everything.
That was why Samuel had been dying.
Not from illness alone.
He had been poisoned slowly.
The medication had accelerated his lung failure.
Rosa cried when she heard.
Her father hadn't abandoned her.
He had been racing death.
Adrian found the final ledger.
It contained one final name.
His uncle.
The evidence was enough to destroy the organization.
But Adrian knew something else.
His uncle had Violet.
The final confrontation happened at the old Valenti estate.
Adrian entered alone.
Rosa waited outside.
Matthew appeared.
He looked exhausted.
"You really think you can end this?"
Adrian raised his weapon.
"No."
Matthew smiled.
"Good."
"I think she can."
Rosa stepped from the shadows.
Matthew's expression changed.
"You."
Rosa held up the ledger.
"You wanted this."
Matthew laughed.
"You think paper can save you?"
"No."
She smiled.
"My father taught me something better."
"What?"
"Build something that survives the person who made it."
Behind Matthew, alarms sounded.
Police.
Federal agents.
Adrian's allies had turned.
The ledger had already been sent to every authority that mattered.
Matthew realized too late.
He looked at Adrian.
"You betrayed me."
Adrian shook his head.
"You betrayed yourself."
Matthew raised his gun.
A shot echoed.
Then another.
He fell.
Adrian ran toward Violet.
She was alive.
Rosa watched them embrace.
Then she saw a figure standing on the balcony.
An old man.
Adrian's uncle.
May you like
He smiled.
And disappeared into the darkness.
