Chapter 20 - An Open Horizon|
"Luca..." Matteo choked out through the thick tear gas, pushing his chair back and trying to stand despite his leg irons. "You traitorous bastard!"
"Traitor?" Luca sneered behind his rubber mask, his voice distorted and chilling. "I worked for the New York families for ten years, Matteo! Carmine was old and soft, and you were too sentimental! Now hand over the diary, girl!"
Luca raised his gun, pointing it directly at Elena's head.
The federal prosecutor scrambled backward, tripping over a chair and dropping his folder as he slammed his back against the wall in terror. The two marshals drew their weapons, but Luca’s men fired first through the doorway, dropping them instantly.
Elena backed into the corner, clutching the red diary against her chest.
"Shoot me, and you'll never decipher the codes!" Elena shouted over the blaring alarm. "It's written in my mother's private shorthand! Only I can read it!"
Luca paused, his finger resting heavily on the trigger. "Then you're coming with me."
"No!" Matteo screamed.
With a desperate, roaring surge of strength, Matteo lifted the heavy steel interrogation table and slammed it violently into Luca’s knees.
Luca lost his balance, his gun discharging wildly into the ceiling as he crashed onto the floor.
Matteo lunged atop him, using his heavy steel handcuffs to choke Luca through the rubber mask. "Run, Elena! Run!"
Elena hesitated, her heart tearing apart as she watched Matteo struggle on the floor against the armed enforcer.
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"Go!" Matteo roared, his face turning purple from exertion and smoke. "Live your life, Elena! I love you!"
Elena wiped the burning tears from her eyes, gripped the red diary tightly, and sprinted out the doorway into the smoke-filled corridor.
