Chapter 9 - THE LIGHT BREAKS THROUGH
The glass window behind Dario’s bed shattered.
But it wasn't Vincent who had fired.
The door behind Vincent blew open as Marco Bell and four heavily armed Federal Marshals charged into Room 412. Marco’s shot had struck Vincent’s wrist, sending his pistol spinning across the floor.
Vincent shrieked in pain, collapsing to his knees as two marshals tackled him to the floor, pulling his arms behind his back and snapping steel handcuffs over his wrists.
“Vincent Kane,” a Federal Marshal announced loudly over the chaos. “You are under arrest for racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, and the attempted assassination of Dario Kane.”
Vincent was dragged out of the room, screaming curses that echoed down the long hallway until the heavy fire doors swung shut, cutting off his voice forever.
The room fell into a stunned, ringing silence.
Marco lowered his weapon, looking at Dario with a respectful nod. “Federal marshals have secured the entire building, boss. It’s over.”
Dario let out a long, trembling breath, sinking back against his pillows. He reached his hand out toward me.
I stepped forward and took his hand. His grip was warm, strong, and completely unyielding.
“Where is she?” Dario asked softly, his gray eyes shining with overwhelming emotion. “Where is my daughter?”
I turned to Marco. “Bring her up.”
Two minutes later, the door opened quietly.
Lucia stood in the doorway, wearing her white sparkly dress with the bow in her hair, holding a small paper cup of apple juice. She looked at the broken glass on the floor, at the marshals in the hallway, and then at Dario sitting in bed.
Dario looked at her, his lips trembling.
“Lucia,” I said gently, kneeling beside her. “Come here, baby.”
Lucia walked slowly across the room, her small shoes clicking softly on the floor. She stopped right beside Dario’s bed.
Dario reached out, his big hand shaking as he gently brushed a dark curl away from her forehead, staring at her face with pure, unadulterated adoration.
“Hello, little sunshine,” Dario whispered softly.
Lucia smiled, her brown eyes lighting up with recognition. She reached out and wrapped her small fingers around his hand, just like she had done yesterday.
May you like
“You woke up,” she said happily.
“I did,” Dario said, tears falling freely into his beard. “Because I heard you singing.”
