Chapter 7 – BROTHERS IN BLOOD

Leo stepped through the smoke, perfectly calm. He wore a tailored suit, looking exactly like the ghost of the man who supposedly died ten years ago.

“You’ve been busy, Gabe,” Leo said, his eyes darting to me and Lily. “And I see you found my niece.”

Gabriel stepped in front of us, shielding us with his body.

“You killed Daniel,” Gabriel said, his voice trembling with rage. “You used Vincenzo to do your dirty work, and you killed my best friend.”

Leo sighed, checking his watch. “Daniel was a Boy Scout. He found out I was running the family from the shadows. I couldn’t have him whispering in your ear, trying to make you go legitimate.”

“Vincenzo works for you?” Gabriel asked, stalling.

“Vincenzo is an old, dying man who likes money,” Leo chuckled. “I let him pretend he was the boss. But Chicago belongs to me.”

Leo raised his weapon, aiming directly at Gabriel’s chest.

“It’s nothing personal, Gabe,” Leo said. “But you’ve gotten soft. You let a maid and a bastard child ruin your focus. I’m doing the family a favor.”

BANG!

A gunshot rang out, echoing deafeningly in the bank lobby.

But Gabriel didn’t fall.

Leo gasped, his eyes going wide. He dropped his gun and fell to his knees, clutching his chest. Blood blossomed across his white shirt.

Behind Leo, standing in the shattered doorway, was Vanessa.

She held Marcus’s silver handgun, her hands shaking violently.

“You ruined my life,” Vanessa sobbed, aiming the gun at Leo’s gasping form. “You forced me to betray the man I loved!”

Leo collapsed onto the marble floor, dead.

Gabriel stared at Vanessa in shock. She dropped the gun and fell to her knees, burying her face in her hands.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Marcus had called the police.

Gabriel turned to me. He looked at Lily, who was hiding her face in my shoulder.

“It’s over,” Gabriel whispered.

The police stormed the building. Vincenzo was arrested down the street trying to flee in his car. Vanessa confessed everything, handing over all the evidence of Leo and Vincenzo’s blackmail. Because she saved Gabriel’s life, the DA offered her a plea deal.

As the paramedics checked Marcus’s shoulder, Gabriel walked over to me.

We stood on the sidewalk in the cool night air.

“Daniel gave his life to protect this family,” Gabriel said softly. “To protect you. And to protect her.”

He looked down at Lily.

“He was my daddy,” Lily said, her voice small but firm.

Gabriel smiled, tears pooling in his eyes. “Yes, he was, sweetheart. He was a great daddy.”

Gabriel looked at me. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Rachel. For not finding you sooner. For not knowing.”

“You couldn’t have known,” I said, wiping my eyes.

“I’m stepping down,” Gabriel announced, his voice resolute. “I’m handing the family business over to the captains who want to go legitimate. I’m done with this life.”

I looked at him, surprised. “What will you do?”

“Whatever it takes to earn the right to know my daughter,” he said humbly.

For the first time in three years, I felt a weight lift off my chest.

Six months later.

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