Chapter 14 - THE EMPIRE CRUMBLES
Vincent didn't look at the gun barrels pointed at his head.
He didn't look at Agent Miller.
He only looked at me.
He walked slowly toward me, ignoring the shouted warnings of the federal agents.
“Stop right there!” Miller commanded, raising his rifle.
“Let him walk,” I said quietly, holding my ground.
Vincent stopped two feet away from me.
Up close, I saw the exhaustion etched deep into his face.
The infallible king of Chicago looked ordinary.
Fragile.
Defeated.
“You really destroyed me, Claire,” Vincent whispered, his voice cracking with bitter disbelief.
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me a cage, Vincent,” I answered evenly.
“And you expected me to sing inside it forever.”
“Who are you?” Vincent asked softly, shaking his head.
“For seven years, I thought you were just my quiet wife.”
“I was never quiet, Vincent,” I replied.
“You were just too loud to hear me.”
Vincent let out a hollow, defeated laugh.
Then he slowly raised his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers.
“Do it,” Vincent murmured to the agents.
Two federal marshals rushed forward.
Heavy steel handcuffs clicked sharply around Vincent Moretti’s wrists.
They hauled him away toward the open warehouse doors, his boots scraping against the cold concrete floor.
May you like
I stood watching until the black-and-white cruiser lights disappeared into the rainy night.
The ghost was finally gone.
