Chapter 6 - The Setup
Dozens of laser sights painted Luca’s chest the moment he stepped outside.
He froze, realizing he was completely surrounded by Arthur's heavily armed mercenaries.
Nico raised his weapon, but Luca quickly put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Stand down, Nico," Luca commanded quietly.
"If we shoot, we all die right here on this porch," he explained.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows and disarmed Luca roughly.
"Mr. Hart is waiting for you at the hospital," the mercenary grunted.
They shoved Luca into the back of a heavily armored transport van.
He sat in the darkness, plotting a dozen different ways to kill the men guarding him.
When the van finally stopped, they dragged him into the abandoned Ravenswood Hospital.
The building smelled of rot, old chemicals, and decay.
They forced him up three flights of stairs to a sprawling observation room.
Elena was standing in the center of the room, looking terrified.
Arthur Hart stood behind her with a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Welcome to the end of the line, Moretti," Arthur announced grandly.
Luca kept his eyes locked solely on his wife.
"Are you hurt, Elena?" he asked, completely ignoring the guns pointed at him.
"I am fine, Luca," she whispered with tears streaming down her face.
Arthur laughed loudly and handed Elena a loaded silver revolver.
"It is time to end this, my dear," Arthur told his daughter.
"Shoot the man who ruined your life, and I will let your sister go," he ordered.
Elena took the heavy gun with violently trembling hands.
She slowly raised the barrel until it was pointed directly at Luca’s heart.
Luca did not beg or plead for his life.
He looked at her with an expression of profound regret and acceptance.
"If this is what you need to do, I understand," Luca told her softly.
"I am sorry I left you on that curb," he added sincerely.
Elena sobbed aloud, her finger tightening on the heavy steel trigger.
"I am so sorry, Luca," she cried.
May you like
She closed her eyes tightly and pulled the trigger.
The loud crack of the gunshot echoed violently through the empty hospital walls.
