Chapter 10 - The Price of Freedom
"Silas gets full amnesty," Leo dictated, never breaking eye contact with the mob boss. "You clear his name of Arthur’s death. You frame one of your own fall guys. We walk away tonight, and you never come near the Vance family again. If you try, the ledger drops."
Maroni stared at Leo for a long, agonizing minute. Finally, he gave a curt, furious nod. "You win, kid. For now."
He turned and walked back to his SUV. The armed men slowly lowered their weapons, piling back into the vehicles. The SUVs reversed out of the warehouse, disappearing into the rainy night.
As the taillights faded, Leo dropped the burner phone. His knees buckled, the adrenaline rapidly leaving his system. Silas caught him before he hit the ground, pulling him into a crushing embrace.
"You crazy, brilliant idiot," Silas breathed, burying his face in Leo’s shoulder. "You saved us."
Chloe lowered her shotgun, letting out a breath she felt she’d been holding for a decade. "I guess the Vance blood is stronger than we thought."
Epilogue
Three months later, the sun beat down on a small, quiet coastal town in Mexico.
Leo sat on the porch of a whitewashed villa, a laptop open in front of him. He was finishing his final university essay remotely. The air smelled of salt and blooming bougainvillea.
The screen door creaked open, and Silas walked out, carrying two cold beers. He looked different. The expensive suits were gone, replaced by a simple linen shirt. The heavy, dark circles under his eyes had finally faded. He looked like a man who could finally sleep.
He handed a beer to Leo, looking out at the endless expanse of the blue ocean.
"Maroni went down on federal tax evasion yesterday," Silas said quietly. "Chloe sent the tip anonymously. The syndicate is fracturing. They're too busy fighting each other to look for us."
"Good," Leo said, taking a sip of the beer. "Let them burn."
Silas looked at his younger brother. The innocence was gone, yes, but in its place was a quiet, unshakable strength. Silas had tried to save Leo by keeping him weak, but Leo had saved them both by becoming strong.
"Are you happy here, Leo?" Silas asked, a hint of the old, protective worry slipping into his voice.
May you like
Leo closed his laptop, leaning back in his chair and looking out at the horizon. There were no gavels here. No sterile courtrooms. No lies hidden under floorboards. Just the open sky and the truth.
"I'm free, Silas," Leo smiled, turning to his brother. "We both are."
