Chapter 8 - Shattered Allegiances and Blood Vengeance
The tension in the grand auditorium was thick enough to cut with a knife. Salvatore Lucchesi slowly withdrew his empty hand from his jacket, his face pale with sudden realization that he had walked into a trap of his own making.
"You think a few guns in the gallery save you, boy?" Lucchesi snarled, his eyes darting toward the exits. "The entire Palermo police commission is on my payroll. By morning, you'll all be behind bars."
"The police commission won't help you," a calm, smooth voice echoed from the shadows near the stage.
A tall, impeccably dressed man stepped into the light. It was Chief Inspector Moretti of the Palermo District—a man rumored to be untouchable, and allegedly Lucchesi’s greatest protector.
"Inspector Moretti!" Lucchesi exclaimed, relief flooding his features. "Arrest them! Arrest Liam Salvatore for extortion and domestic terrorism!"
Moretti stopped beside Liam, offering the mafia boss a polite, deferential nod. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, Inspector Moretti said smoothly, turning to face Lucchesi. "I'm here to execute a federal arrest warrant for Salvatore Lucchesi on charges of arson, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit murder."
Lucchesi stumbled backward, his face draining of all color. "You sold me out! You promised protection!"
"Protection is for men who keep their word," Moretti replied coldly, snapping his fingers.
Two uniformed officers stepped forward, slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto Lucchesi’s wrists as he screamed curses into the empty theater. Within minutes, the auditorium was cleared, leaving only Liam, Mary, and Inspector Moretti standing beneath the blazing chandelier.
"You played a dangerous game, Inspector," Liam said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "But it worked."
"Politics in Palermo requires delicate balancing," Moretti smiled thinly. "Besides, the Salvatore family has always been very generous with their charitable donations to the city."
Moretti glanced at Mary, nodded respectfully, and walked out, leaving the two cousins alone in the cavernous hall. Mary let out a long, shaky breath, her knees suddenly feeling weak as the adrenaline began to fade. Liam stepped closer, his dark eyes softening as he looked down at her.
"You were extraordinary tonight, Mary."
"I was terrified out of my mind," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "But I wasn't going to let him win."
"That's true Salvatore blood," Liam murmured, reaching out to gently brush a lock of hair from her forehead. His touch lingered against her skin, sending a warm shiver down her spine. "The war is over, Mary. The Lucchesi faction is finished, and our ports are secure."
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"Which means..." she hesitated, a sudden ache tightening in her chest.
"Which means you can finally go back to Rome," Liam finished quietly, his jaw tightening as though the words cost him dearly. "Or... you can stay."
