Chapter 14 - THE EDGE
“Carlo!”
Sophia ran.
Carlo pulled Emma backward through the trees.
The cliff overlooked a frozen section of river thirty feet below.
Emma kicked and screamed.
“Let me go!”
“Shut up!”
Sophia chased them.
Behind her, gunfire erupted between Victor’s men and approaching officers.
She didn’t look back.
Carlo reached the edge.
He turned.
His face was covered in blood.
“You.”
Sophia slowed.
“Let her go.”
“You should’ve stayed invisible.”
“Probably.”
Carlo laughed wildly.
“Your husband had the same problem.”
Sophia’s hands curled into fists.
“You want to hurt me?”
“You already lost Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Want to lose someone else?”
Sophia looked at Emma.
The child was crying silently now.
Terrified.
Sophia spoke calmly.
“Emma, look at me.”
Carlo pulled her tighter.
“I said don’t—”
“Look at me, sweetheart.”
Emma did.
Sophia smiled.
“Remember what I taught you when we baked cookies?”
Emma blinked.
Carlo frowned.
“What?”
Sophia kept her eyes on Emma.
“If something spills?”
Emma whispered, “Make a bigger mess.”
Sophia smiled.
“Exactly.”
Emma stomped as hard as she could on Carlo’s foot.
He shouted.
She bit his arm.
Carlo released her.
Sophia charged.
She hit him with her full weight.
All three of them fell.
Emma rolled sideways.
Sophia and Carlo slid toward the cliff.
Carlo grabbed Sophia’s throat.
“You ruined everything!”
Sophia clawed at his face.
“You murdered my husband!”
“He was weak!”
“He was better than you!”
Carlo punched her.
Her vision flashed.
He raised his fist again.
Then Emma threw a rock.
It struck his temple.
Carlo turned.
Sophia drove her knee into him.
He lost balance.
One foot slipped over the edge.
Carlo grabbed Sophia’s arm.
Suddenly both of them were hanging over the cliff.
Sophia caught a tree root with her other hand.
Carlo dangled below her.
“Help me!”
She stared down at him.
The man who had killed Daniel.
Threatened Mia.
Kidnapped Emma.
“Please!”
Sophia’s grip slipped.
Carlo grabbed her sleeve.
“You’re not a killer!”
Sophia looked into his terrified eyes.
“No.”
She reached down with her free hand.
Carlo smiled.
Then he pulled hard, trying to drag her over.
Sophia screamed.
The root cracked.
A gunshot thundered.
Carlo jerked.
His grip opened.
He fell.
Sophia didn’t watch him hit the river.
Someone grabbed her wrist.
Lorenzo.
He was on his stomach, bleeding through his shirt.
“I’ve got you.”
“You’re shot.”
“I noticed.”
He pulled her up.
Emma threw herself into his arms.
“Daddy!”
Lorenzo held her.
Sophia sat in the snow, shaking.
Sirens screamed below.
Helicopters moved overhead.
Federal agents flooded the estate.
For the first time, Victor Moretti had nowhere to run.
Sophia looked toward the cemetery.
Agents surrounded Victor.
He raised his hands.
Then smiled directly at Lorenzo.
“Ask your father who really started this.”
Lorenzo stared.
“My father is dead.”
Victor laughed.
May you like
“That’s what he wanted you to believe.”
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