AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Your 'business' destroyed our family, Tony!" she spits back, tears welling up in her eyes. "You killed innocent children! You ruined our innocent son's life. I had to do something!"
"Enough!" he roars, reaching for his gun. But before he can even aim it, a gunshot echoes through the room.
My father's eyes widen in terror as blood begins to seep through his shirt. He collapses to the floor, gasping for air. "You… you will all pay for this," he growls, his voice weak and strained. "You've won nothing."
As life fades from his eyes, I feel a torrent of emotions crashing through me. Relief that this nightmare is finally over, but also sorrow for the family we once were – a family that can never be whole again, and a life I never experienced.
"Is it really over?" I ask quietly, looking to Jasmine for reassurance.
"Your father's empire has crumbled," she replies softly, wrapping her arms around me. "Now, we can build something new together, Dario. Something better."
"With mother by my side," I dare say out loud, tasting the word in my mouth.
The world around me seems to hold its breath, the silence a stark contrast to the gunshot that still echoes in my ears. My mother stands there, gun still raised, her face a mix of determination and despair. My father's lifeless body lies crumpled on the floor, his final curse hanging in the air.
I walk over to my mother and gently touch her hand, helping her lower the gun. She looks at me, and the first thing I observe, is how her eyes have aged. They used to be so youthful and now, all these lines. "Mother," I whisper, my voice trembling and throat aching with a strange lump when a large, thunderous roar and quake begins to take place around us, the floors shaking.
"Everyone, we need to leave. Now!" Jasmine shouts, snapping me out of my shock.
"Jasmine's right," Frank adds. "We don't know what kind of failsafes he might have set up."
As if on cue, the ground beneath our feet begins to tremble, followed by a deafening explosion that shakes the very foundations of the mansion. Panic rises within me as I realize we are running out of time.
"Leonardo, help Mother. We need to get out of here, I would have but Jasmine, pregnant" I command, taking Jasmine's hand and sprinting towards the exit.
"Pregnant? Take care of her, Dario," Elisabetta pleads as she grasps Leonardo's arm for support.
"Mom, just focus on yourself right now," Leonardo adds, his voice strained but determined.
We navigate the maze-like corridors, our knowledge of the mansion's layout serving us well. The explosions grow closer and more powerful with each passing second, and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. Jasmine squeezes my hand tightly, her eyes locked on mine.
"Stay with me, Dario," she urges, her words a lifeline in the chaos surrounding us.
"I'm not letting go, Jasmine," I promise, my resolve steeling itself. "Not you, nor the baby."
Finally, we burst through the front doors, greeted by a cacophony of police sirens and the roar of approaching fire trucks. I glance back at the crumbling mansion, my childhood home, as it succumbs to the flames.
Elena stands at the helm of the arriving authorities, her eyes filled with concern and determination. She surveys the scene, her gaze settling on me.
The end of my father's reign has come, but what awaits me now? I can't help but feel exposed, standing here as the police close in.
"Go," Jasmine urges, her voice tight with concern. She squeezes my hand before letting it go. "Dario, you need to leave. I'll handle this with Elena."
I stare at her, torn between the urge to flee and the desire to stay by her side. "What about you?" I ask, my voice barely audible over the sirens. "You shouldn't have to deal with this on your own."
She shakes her head, her eyes fierce and determined. "I can handle it, Dario. You've done enough; it's time to let others take care of the aftermath. You're not safe here. Go, be with your mother. I will join you."
I glance around, feeling the weight of the officers' stares as they survey the wreckage. They don't know about my involvement yet, but it's only a matter of time before they piece it together. I can't risk being caught, not when there's still so much work to be done to ensure a brighter future for those left behind in the shadow of my father's empire.
"Promise me you'll be careful," I say, my chest tightening with worry. "Don't do anything reckless."
"Always," she replies, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. "Now go. The longer you stay, the more dangerous it becomes."
Chapter 45
Hard Choices
Jasmine
