Chapter 6 - The Trap Collapses
The frosted glass windows surrounding the sixth-floor dining room shattered simultaneously into ten thousand glittering crystals.
Four tactical operatives dressed in black body armor dropped down from the ceiling rafters on heavy ropes, their automatic weapons trained instantly on Moretti and his men.
At the same moment, the double service doors behind Moretti burst open. Leo stepped into the room, flanked by six heavily armed Romano family enforcers.
Moretti’s three bodyguards instantly raised their hands, dropping their weapons onto the carpet with loud, heavy thuds.
Joseph Moretti’s face drained of color. "Dante... wait..."
"Did you really think I wouldn't track your phone, Joseph?" Dante asked, stepping around Emma, his expression dark and devoid of mercy. "You've been leaking our shipping routes to the Russians for eighteen months. You used your daughter to try and murder my mother so you could take control of our board."
Vanessa backed away toward the wall, her green eyes wide with terror. "Dante, please! It was my father! He forced me to do it! He threatened Lucas!"
"Shut your mouth, Vanessa," Dante said coldly.
He turned to Leo. "Take the micro SD card from Emma. Send it directly to the State's Attorney's office, along with the financial audit records Leo compiled this morning."
Leo stepped forward, taking the small card from Emma’s trembling hand with a respectful nod. "Consider it done, boss."
Dante looked back at Joseph Moretti and Vanessa.
"The police officers waiting outside aren't yours anymore, Joseph," Dante revealed smoothly. "Federal marshals took them into custody twenty minutes ago. You and your daughter are going to spend the rest of your lives in a federal penitentiary for attempted murder, extortion, and high treason."
Two federal agents walked into the room, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around Joseph Moretti's and Vanessa's wrists.
As Vanessa was led past Emma, she stopped, glaring at the waitress with pure, unadulterated rage.
"You ruined everything," Vanessa spat. "You're nothing! You're just a nobody waitress!"
Emma stood tall, looking straight into Vanessa's furious eyes.
"I might be a waitress," Emma said softly, her voice steady and clear. "But at least I don't have to spend the rest of my life behind bars."
Vanessa was dragged away, her shrill screams fading down the corridor until the room returned to a quiet, peaceful stillness.
Dante turned to Emma.
He walked over to her, reaching out to gently take her hands. He looked down at her face, his gray eyes shining with an emotion he hadn't felt in years—admiration, respect, and something much deeper.
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"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
Emma looked up at him, a small, genuine smile finally breaking across her lips. "I think I am."
