CHAP 15 — THE HOUSE FALLS
Carmine held Leo inside Alessandro Costa’s old townhouse.
The family home.
Again, symbolism.
Mave had stopped being impressed by it.
They entered through the front.
Vincent.
Mave.
Gabriel.
Sofia.
Donovan.
A strange alliance built from people Carmine had damaged.
Leo sat in the old dining room.
Bruised.
Angry.
Alive.
Carmine stood behind him.
“You brought everyone.”
Mave looked around.
“You seem lonely.”
Carmine smiled.
“Marcus had that mouth too.”
Vincent moved slightly.
Mave touched his hand.
Stay beside me.
He did.
Carmine wanted the ledger destroyed.
He wanted the Vale claim withdrawn.
He wanted control of Costa Maritime restored.
Mave carried the original ledger.
At least Carmine believed it was original.
She placed it on the table.
“Leo first.”
Carmine released him.
Leo staggered toward Vincent.
Sofia caught him.
Carmine picked up the ledger.
He opened it.
Blank pages.
His expression changed.
Mave smiled.
“You thought I’d bring the only copy?”
Carmine looked toward Donovan.
Donovan smiled sadly.
“She really is Marcus’s daughter.”
Carmine raised a weapon.
Everything changed at once.
Vincent moved.
Gabriel moved.
Sofia pulled Leo down.
Mave stood frozen for half a second.
Then a gunshot cracked.
The chandelier shattered.
No one immediately understood who fired.
Carmine ran toward the rear hall.
Vincent followed.
Mave shouted:
“Vincent!”
He disappeared.
Old instincts.
Again.
Mave ran after him.
In Alessandro’s study, Vincent cornered Carmine.
Carmine held the weapon.
Vincent had one too.
Two Costas.
One room.
One hundred years of inherited violence.
Carmine smiled.
“Do it.”
Vincent’s breathing was controlled.
“You know you want to.”
Mave stopped in the doorway.
Carmine saw her.
“Your father would.”
Vincent’s finger tightened.
Carmine continued.
“Alessandro would.”
Vincent’s eyes hardened.
Then Mave spoke.
“You’re wrong.”
Carmine glanced toward her.
She looked at Vincent.
“He isn’t either of them.”
Silence.
Vincent lowered the weapon.
Carmine laughed.
“Weak.”
Police sirens filled the street.
Vincent smiled.
“No.”
He stepped backward.
“Finished.”
Carmine’s expression changed.
He looked toward the rear window.
Police everywhere.
Federal agents entered from below.
Sofia had delivered everything.
Ledger.
Accounts.
Kidnapping evidence.
Murder evidence.
Carmine had nowhere left.
For the first time in decades, the old man looked frightened.
He pointed the weapon toward Mave.
Vincent moved.
Gabriel struck Carmine’s arm from the side.
The weapon fell.
Officers flooded the room.
Carmine Costa was taken to the floor of the house he believed belonged to him.
Mave watched.
No dramatic execution.
No final revenge.
Just handcuffs.
Paperwork.
Evidence.
Consequences.
For a man like Carmine, perhaps that was worse.
Outside, Vincent stood beneath the old stone entrance.
The townhouse belonged to his family.
For generations.
He looked back.
“Sell it.”
Leo blinked.
“What?”
“Sell the house.”
Mave watched him.
“What will you do with the money?”
Vincent looked toward her.
“Something my family should have done a long time ago.”
The proceeds created a fund for families harmed by the Costa network.
It was not redemption.
Money could not resurrect anyone.
May you like
But it was a beginning.
And for the first time, Vincent Costa willingly allowed part of his inheritance to disappear.
