Chapter 14 - Harper’s Impossible Choice
Anthony disappeared for three days.
Those were the strangest three days of Harper's life.
Federal agents filled Luca's business offices.
Accountants seized documents.
News vans gathered outside his home.
Headlines exploded.
MORETTI EMPIRE UNDER FEDERAL REVIEW
BOSTON BUSINESSMAN HANDS OVER DECADES OF RECORDS
ROBERT MORETTI ARRESTED IN FRAUD CONSPIRACY
Luca refused interviews.
His lawyers worked constantly.
Some of his companies were frozen.
Others continued operating.
Harper watched his world begin dismantling itself.
And Luca seemed calmer.
Not happy.
But lighter.
One night, she found him sitting on the back steps without a coat.
Snow covered the garden.
“You're going to freeze.”
He looked at her.
“That sounds familiar.”
Harper sat beside him.
“What happens now?”
“I cooperate.”
“With everything?”
“Yes.”
“Even if you get charged?”
“If I've done something criminal they can prove, then yes.”
Harper studied him.
“You sound different.”
“I feel different.”
“How?”
Luca looked at the snow.
“Like I'm finally tired.”
“That's not encouraging.”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“Tired of being Luca Moretti.”
Harper leaned against the railing.
“Who would you rather be?”
“I don't know.”
“Maybe Luca in the ugly sweatshirt.”
He laughed.
“You liked that.”
“It was humbling.”
“I'll burn it.”
“You still have it?”
“Of course.”
Harper smiled.
Then Luca turned serious.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Nursing school.”
She looked down.
“I checked.”
“And?”
“Applications reopen next month.”
“Good.”
“I'd have to retake some prerequisites.”
“Fine.”
“Tuition is still tuition.”
Luca said nothing.
Harper pointed at him.
“Don't.”
“I said nothing.”
“You're thinking loudly.”
He raised both hands.
She laughed.
Then silence came.
A comfortable silence.
Harper realized how rare that had become in her life.
She turned.
Luca was watching her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I know.”
He moved slightly closer.
Harper didn't move away.
“This is probably a terrible idea,” she whispered.
“Most important things in my life began as terrible ideas.”
“That is not reassuring.”
“No.”
Luca touched her cheek.
The kiss was gentle.
Almost hesitant.
Nothing about Luca Moretti was normally hesitant.
That made it matter more.
Harper kissed him back.
For a moment, there was no Anthony.
No ledger.
No mafia.
No history.
Just two exhausted people on cold stone steps.
Then Luca's phone rang.
Harper groaned.
“Of course.”
He answered.
His expression changed.
Harper knew immediately.
Anthony.
“What?”
Luca listened.
Then stood.
“Where?”
He ended the call.
“Thomas is gone.”
Harper rose.
“What?”
“His security team found the house empty.”
“Did Anthony take him?”
“We don't know.”
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message.
I LEFT VOLUNTARILY. DON'T FOLLOW. —T
Harper stared.
“That’s him.”
Luca read it.
“Could be forced.”
Another message arrived.
An address.
Then:
Harper only. Please. I need to finish what I started before you were born.
Luca shook his head.
“No.”
Harper looked at him.
“Ask, remember?”
He closed his eyes.
“I am asking you not to go.”
She looked at the address.
Cape Cod.
A house near the water.
“I need to.”
“Why?”
“Because he is my father.”
“He abandoned you.”
“He also tried to protect me.”
“Both can be true.”
“Yes.”
Luca stopped.
Harper touched his hand.
“If I don't go, I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what he wanted to say.”
“What if Anthony's there?”
“Then we prepare.”
They did.
Harper drove south.
Luca followed miles behind.
This time Thomas had asked Harper alone, not an enemy.
She wanted to honor at least part of that.
The house stood near a frozen marsh.
Old.
Small.
Harper entered.
Thomas sat by the fireplace.
Alone.
“Dad?”
The word felt strange.
He looked up.
Emotion crossed his face.
“Harper.”
She closed the door.
“Why did you leave the safe house?”
“Because Anthony contacted me.”
Her body tensed.
“What does he want?”
“Me.”
“Why?”
Thomas looked tired.
“Because I know where his exit money is.”
“What?”
“Years ago, Anthony hid funds overseas. Accounts Carlo helped create.”
“Robert didn't know?”
“No.”
“Why does Anthony think you can access them?”
“Because Katherine kept the authorization codes.”
Harper laughed bitterly.
“Mom really collected everyone's secrets.”
“She believed secrets were sometimes safer than guns.”
“Was she right?”
“Usually.”
Thomas handed Harper a small notebook.
“What is this?”
“Account information.”
She stared.
“Why give it to me?”
“Because Anthony believes I still have it.”
“You're using yourself as bait.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“You sound like Luca.”
“That's not a compliment right now.”
“I need you to take this to federal investigators.”
“Come with me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“If Anthony thinks I'm cooperating, he'll run.”
“Let him.”
“He has Marcus. Daniel may still be alive. Others too.”
Harper's anger rose.
“You don't get to disappear again.”
Thomas looked at her.
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't get to meet me after twenty-seven years and then decide dying heroically makes everything even.”
His face crumpled slightly.
Harper continued.
“You want forgiveness?”
“Yes.”
“Then live long enough to earn it.”
Thomas looked away.
Harper's eyes filled.
“I don't know if I'll ever call you Dad again.”
He nodded.
“I don't know if I'll ever trust you.”
“I understand.”
“But I want the chance to decide later.”
Thomas looked back.
For the first time, tears stood in his eyes.
“I don't deserve that.”
“Probably not.”
Harper extended her hand.
“Come with me anyway.”
Thomas stared at it.
Then took it.
Outside, a vehicle approached.
Harper looked through the window.
Black sedan.
Her stomach dropped.
Thomas stood.
“Anthony.”
“How?”
“He must have followed me.”
Harper called Luca.
No signal.
Thomas pulled her away from the window.
“Back door.”
They ran.
The rear opened toward the marsh.
Snow crunched beneath their feet.
Harper looked back.
Two men emerged from the car.
Anthony wasn't among them.
Thomas pushed the notebook into her coat.
“Go.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“Together.”
A gunshot cracked somewhere behind.
They ducked.
Then another sound.
Engines.
Several SUVs appeared along the road.
Luca.
Anthony's men turned.
Chaos followed.
Harper and Thomas reached the tree line.
Luca ran toward them.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
Thomas nodded.
The attackers fled before being caught.
Luca's men pursued.
Vincent arrived.
Harper handed him the notebook.
“This is what Anthony wants.”
Vincent looked inside.
His face changed.
“This could trace every hidden account he has.”
Luca looked toward Thomas.
“You planned to trade yourself for this?”
Thomas didn't answer.
Harper did.
“He changed his mind.”
Thomas looked at her.
Harper squeezed his hand once.
Maybe not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But possibility.
Then Luca's phone rang.
The pursuit team.
Vincent answered.
His face tightened.
“They caught one.”
“Anthony?”
“No.”
“Marcus?”
Vincent shook his head.
“The man says Anthony is heading north.”
“Where?”
Vincent listened.
Then slowly looked toward Harper.
“South Boston.”
Her stomach dropped.
Anthony wasn't running away.
He was going back to where everything began.
Her building.
Apartment 3B.
May you like
And according to the captured man, he was carrying enough gasoline to burn the entire block.
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