Chapter 6 - The Hunt for Elena
Inside the darkened office, Silvio was groveling on the floor, clutching his shattered shoulder as blood pooled beneath him. Luca stood over him, the heavy heel of his boot resting firmly on Silvio's chest, pressing down until the Romano captain gasped for air.
"Where is your brother, Silvio?" Luca asked, his voice completely devoid of humanity. "Where is Marcello hiding?"
"He's... he's at the high-rise on Wacker Drive," Silvio choked out, coughing up blood. "The penthouse. He’s already got a private jet waiting at Midway. If I don't check in by two in the morning, he leaves for international waters. He’s taking the remaining Romano funds. He knows you're coming, Ravenna!"
Luca pressed his boot down harder, hearing a rib crack. "Who told Marcello about the girls? How did he find them before I did?"
"It was Matteo!" Silvio screamed, desperate to stop the pain. "The old man... he sold the information to Marcello six months ago. He wanted Marcello to eliminate the girls so you’d never find out the truth! But Marcello wanted to use them as leverage first. We tracked them to an apartment in the North Side... but the kids ran into the storm... we lost them on Michigan Avenue..."
Luca finally understood. The blizzard hadn't just been a coincidence. It had been a miracle. The girls had escaped into the whiteout, running blindly until fate placed them directly in front of his armored car. His mother’s spirit had guided them right to his headlights.
"Thank you for the information, Silvio," Luca said quietly.
"You... you're letting me go?" Silvio gasped, a faint glint of hope in his eyes.
"No," Luca said, raising his pistol. "I'm letting you bleed."
Luca turned and walked out of the room, leaving Silvio to the dark. He walked back to his armored vehicle, where Elena was wrapped in a thick wool blanket, sipping hot tea provided by Marco.
When she saw Luca enter, she reached out for him immediately. Luca sat beside her, pulling her into his lap, holding her as if she might vanish if he loosened his grip.
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"They're so beautiful, Luca," Elena sobbed against his chest. "Mia and Cara. They look just like you. I wanted to tell you so many times... but Matteo's men were everywhere. They threatened to kill them while they were still in my womb."
"The men who threatened you are already dead," Luca said, his voice fierce with a protective vow. "And by sunrise, the rest of them will join them. We are going home first. You need to see our daughters."
