Chapter 11 - The Fortune Beneath the FloorLuis Ramirez agreed to meet only in daylight.
They were wrong.
An empire collapsed.
Luca didn’t.
At 9:04 on Monday morning, Luca DeLuca entered the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan beside three attorneys and voluntarily surrendered.
Hundreds of reporters crowded the barricades.
Cameras flashed.
Questions exploded.
“Mr. DeLuca, are you admitting involvement in organized crime?”
“Did you order murders?”
“Are you cooperating with federal authorities?”
“Is Vincent Moretti connected to Commissioner Fallon?”
Luca answered none of them.
Emily watched from a black SUV across the street.
He had asked her not to come.
This time she agreed.
Not because he ordered her.
Because they had discussed it.
She was learning that difference mattered.
Daniel sat beside her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
Luca disappeared inside the courthouse.
Emily stared at the doors.
“How long?”
Daniel asked.
“No idea.”
Their attorney had explained possibilities.
Immunity for some testimony.
Reduced charges.
Civil forfeiture.
Prison.
Everything depended on which parts of Peter’s archive prosecutors could verify.
The cassette changed everything.
It directly implicated former police commissioner Francis Callahan, Peter DeLuca, and Victor Moretti in Frank DeLuca’s murder.
It also exposed decades of corruption.
Judges.
Detectives.
Politicians.
Union officials.
Businessmen.
Some dead.
Some very much alive.
The scandal grew by the hour.
Emily’s father became an unlikely hero in news coverage.
MECHANIC’S SECRET RECORDING BREAKS 17-YEAR MURDER CASE
She hated the headlines.
Her father had never wanted fame.
He wanted his children safe.
The irony hurt.
Three hours later, Luca’s attorney called.
Emily answered before the first ring ended.
“What happened?”
“He was released pending proceedings.”
She nearly collapsed.
“Released?”
“For now.”
“Is he coming out?”
“In about fifteen minutes.”
When Luca emerged, the crowd surged.
He wore the same black suit.
No tie.
For the first time Emily had ever seen, no armed security surrounded him.
Just attorneys.
He looked strangely ordinary.
Then his eyes found the SUV.
Emily stepped out.
Reporters shouted.
Luca crossed the sidewalk.
“Why are you outside?”
“Hello to you too.”
“You were supposed to stay in the vehicle.”
“And you were supposed to stop ordering me around.”
His mouth twitched.
“Right.”
She touched his face.
“What happened?”
“Negotiations.”
“That tells me nothing.”
“I surrendered ownership of twelve companies.”
Emily blinked.
“Twelve?”
“Properties too.”
“How much?”
“Most of it.”
She searched his expression.
“How do you feel?”
“Lighter.”
That surprised her.
“Really?”
“No.”
She laughed.
He pulled her into his arms.
“I feel terrified.”
“You’re allowed.”
“Are you sure?”
“No. I made that up.”
He smiled against her hair.
Daniel climbed from the SUV.
“Are we done with the emotional reunion? Some of us haven’t eaten.”
Luca looked at him.
“You ate forty minutes ago.”
“I’m nineteen.”
“Apparently that’s a medical condition.”
They returned to the penthouse.
For now it remained Luca’s.
But federal agents had already inventoried everything.
Luca walked through rooms he might soon lose.
Emily followed.
“You love this place?”
“No.”
“Then why keep it?”
“My mother liked the view.”
Emily looked toward the skyline.
“Where is she?”
“Florida.”
“She knows?”
“She called me thirteen times.”
“You didn’t answer?”
“I was busy surrendering to federal authorities.”
“Fourteen calls now.”
Luca checked his phone.
Another incoming call.
MOM
Emily smiled.
“Answer.”
“No.”
“Luca.”
He sighed and accepted.
“Hello, Ma.”
Emily moved away but could still hear the woman shouting in Italian through the speaker.
Luca closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Pause.
“I understand.”
Pause.
“No, Emily did not make me surrender.”
Emily raised an eyebrow.
His mother’s voice grew louder.
Luca looked at Emily.
“She wants to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“She apparently has opinions.”
“I’m shocked.”
He handed her the phone.
“Hello?”
“Emily?”
“Yes.”
“Are you eating?”
Emily blinked.
“I… yes.”
“Luca forgets to feed people when he’s worried.”
Luca mouthed, I do not.
Emily turned away to hide her smile.
His mother continued.
“You make him sleep.”
“I’ll try.”
“And tell him he is not his father.”
Emily’s smile faded.
“What?”
“He thinks because Frank died trying to change, Luca must finish everything alone.”
Luca stared out the window.
His mother said quietly, “Tell him people who love him are allowed to help.”
Emily looked at Luca.
“I will.”
That night, he finally slept.
Not in his bedroom.
On the sofa beside Emily.
She woke at three in the morning when he jerked upright.
His breathing was ragged.
“Luca.”
He looked around.
“It’s okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re sweating.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Emily sat up.
“Nightmare?”
“No.”
She waited.
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Your father?”
“Anthony.”
“What happened?”
“In the dream?”
“Yes.”
“He died.”
Emily reached for him.
Luca let her.
“He’s alive.”
“For now.”
Anthony had developed complications.
His condition remained unstable.
“He saved you.”
“Yes.”
“Do you forgive him?”
Luca was silent.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to decide tonight.”
“He betrayed you.”
“He also saved you.”
“That doesn’t erase what he did.”
“No.”
Emily rested her head on his shoulder.
“People are inconvenient that way.”
“What way?”
“They’re rarely only one thing.”
Luca kissed her hair.
The next morning, federal agents arrested six former officials.
By afternoon, another nine.
Francis Callahan was taken into custody at his Connecticut home.
The scandal became national news.
Vincent Moretti was charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, extortion, conspiracy, and multiple federal offenses.
For the first time in months, Emily believed he could never reach her again.
Then her attorney called.
“Emily.”
“What happened?”
“The city has frozen Carter Auto.”
“What?”
“The property is now considered evidence connected to the underground archive.”
“For how long?”
“Could be months.”
Emily closed her eyes.
The shop was her only income.
Insurance had already refused coverage for the attack damage.
Daniel’s tuition was due.
Medical bills were growing.
Luca walked in as she ended the call.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Emily.”
She hated that he could read her already.
“The shop is frozen.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No.”
He stopped.
“No?”
“No.”
“I can pay—”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because I need to rebuild my life without becoming dependent on another powerful man.”
Luca’s face softened.
“I’m not Moretti.”
“I know.”
“That sounded dangerously like a comparison.”
“It wasn’t.”
She took his hands.
“But I spent months having every choice taken from me. I need to know I can stand on my own.”
Luca looked down at their joined hands.
“Okay.”
She blinked.
“That easy?”
“No.”
“Luca.”
“I want to fix it.”
“I know.”
“I can fix it.”
“I know.”
“And you won’t let me.”
“Correct.”
He exhaled.
“This relationship is exhausting.”
Emily smiled.
“We’re in a relationship now?”
He stared.
She laughed.
Then he pulled her close.
“Yes.”
He kissed her forehead.
“A very exhausting one.”
Two days later, Emily received a call from an unknown Brooklyn number.
A woman introduced herself as Sofia Ramirez.
“My husband worked for your father.”
Emily frowned.
“Which husband?”
“Luis. Mechanic. Ten years.”
Emily remembered him.
“He left after my dad died.”
“He didn’t leave.”
Emily’s stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
“He was scared.”
“Of Moretti?”
“Yes.”
Sofia lowered her voice.
“Luis knows why Vincent wanted your property before he knew about the archive.”
Emily stood.
“There was another reason?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“He found something beneath the tunnel.”
“What?”
Sofia hesitated.
“Money.”
Emily closed her eyes.
“How much?”
“Not thousands.”
May you like
A pause.
“Millions.”
