Chapter 16 - The Choice at the Water's Edge
Lily reached Sofia first. She cut the restraints with a small blade hidden in her sleeve.
"Can you stand?"
"Yes."
"Then run when I say."
Matteo recovered quickly. He grabbed Lily's coat and pulled her backward. She struck his arm, but he was stronger than he looked.
"You're making the same mistake your father made," he hissed.
"Which one?"
"Thinking courage is enough."
He shoved her toward the edge of the pier.
Victor emerged from behind the container. "Let her go."
Matteo laughed. "There he is. The good brother."
Victor held his hands out. "This ends tonight."
"It ended when you chose Daniel over family."
"I chose the children."
"You chose strangers."
"I chose what was right."
Matteo's face twisted. "You have no idea what it cost me."
"Then tell the court."
Matteo glanced toward the shadows. Two men moved behind Victor. One raised a gun.
A shot rang out.
Victor dropped to one knee.
Lily screamed his name.
Ruiz's officers surged from the far end of the pier. The two gunmen were tackled before they could fire again. Matteo grabbed Lily and dragged her toward the water.
Sofia, still unsteady, picked up a loose length of chain and swung it at his arm.
He let go.
Lily drove her shoulder into him. Matteo stumbled against the railing, caught himself, and looked down at the dark water.
For one second, she thought he might jump.
Instead, he smiled.
May you like
"You still don't know who paid for the children."
Then he stepped backward and vanished into the harbor.
